British Press Comment

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 7

British Press Comment

OUTBURST OF FRANTIC FURY (British Official Wireless.) Received Sunday, 9.-0 pan. RUGBY, Oct. 14. Tho morning nowspapers deal with the German reactions to Mr. Chamberlain’s speech. Tho News-Chronicle, commenting on tho Nazi official statement that the speech is an “insult to Germany” and that Britain’s object is to “destroy tho German people,” asks why, if this bo bo, the free publication of the speech is held up in Germany and whether it is customary to suppress tho enemy’s insults. “it would bo difficult,” says the News-Chronicle, “to invent a more fantastic perversion. Take one sentence in the Premier’s speech: VI am certain all the peoples of Europe, including the people of Germany, long for p eace — a peace which will enable them to live their lives without fear and devote their energies and gifts to the development of their culture, the pursuit of their ideals and the improvement of their material prosperity. ’ Does that eound like a threat to destroy the German people? Is that insulting?” The Daily Telegraph says: “Judging by the reactions which ho excited, Mr. Chamberlain has every reason to be satisfied with tho reply ho made to Hitler’s so-called peace proposals. The speech has been applauded in France and the Dominions and almost unreservedly approved by tho neutrals, including tho United States. “Not even the Rome radio is hostile. Noting that Mr. Chamberlain, while maintaining his point of view, did not definitely reject tho possibility of peace, tho Italian commentator declares: ‘ltaly’s position as a neutral remains unchanged. ’ “Violently contrasted with this manifestation in neutral countries is the outburst of frantic fury in Germany—-a fury embittered, it seems, by painful disillusionment. Evidently Germany has persuaded itself that Franco and Britain would collapse at tho blast of the Hitler trumpets like tho walls of Jericho falling before the trumpets of Joshua. It was complacently supposed that, Poland having been crushed and dismembered, nothing remained but to celebrate one more characteristic Hitler triumph and assimilate tho spoil at leisure before staging another smash and grab assault upon a neighbour’s freedom.” The Telegraph adds: “If Hitler were sincere in his desire for a stable peace he could find in Mr. Chamberlain’s reply ample opportunity for putting forward proposals worthy of consideration. If he is not sincere then it would bo in tho last degree imprudent to bo drawn into the net of mero make-believe negotiations. ” The Daily Herald says: “Fortunately in the rest of tho world where tho writ of Hitlerism does not run the purpose of British policy is understood and appreciated. Some day it will be understood by tho people of Germany also, and then it will bo possible to negotiate with the free men and women of a new Reich a decent and lasting peace.” Neutral Press Comment Tho Portuguese newspaper Voz expresses tho view that Hitler’s peace offer was on a basis that Britain and France could not accept with honour. The Sofia newspuper emphasises the British and FreucJi determination to opposo force aiid pays tribute to tho' peace efforts of Mr. Chamberlain. Tho Swiss press is nearly unanimous in its interpretation of tho result of the declarations of Hitler, Daladier and Chamberlain in the sense that “peace” now depends on Germany. Reviewing the position as left by the firm British statement, tho Swedish newspaper Tidningeu says: “The only thing certain is that Germany is rushing to destruction. The sense of impending doom in this as in other casc3 is likely to drivo to counsels of despair.” The Danish Social Demokratin regards Mr. Chamberlain’s speech as a clear rejection of Hitler’s proposals without being violent. It docs not preclude all negotiations in this newspaper’s view, but defines specific conditions on which peaco would be possible.

According to a Bucharest press report, tho newspaper Universal writes that Mr. Chamberlain’s speech makes clear his three conditions for peace: First, tho restoration of Poland and Czechoslovakia; secondly, real guarantees against further aggression, and, thirdly, the rcsturatiuu oh sp.alid.ease

which the present German Government is incapablo of doing. A further condition is that Germany shall renounce further successes in Eastern Europe. This newspaper takes the view that the Rumanian Government is of opinion that the German peace offensive is misplaced and it is plain that the Western Towers would draw a clear distinction between the German Government and the German people. According to the Swedish, newspaper Tidningen, Scandinavian countries arc fully aware of the consequences of adopting the reported German advice to them to abandon their trado with Western countries. Tho Tidningen says: “Germany states she can take all tho Scandinavian exports. That Germany cannot pay for them one regards, of fiyuise, quite* &alml£ in. German^,’ 4 i