Different Versions of Venlo

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 279, 25 November 1939, Page 7

Different Versions of Venlo

Tale of Peace Proposals MERELY ACTED AS POSTMEN United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 10.55 p.m. THE HAGUE, Nov. 24. An official statement on the Ycnlc incident states: — “In the car were two Englishmen who produced authority to show they had permission to contact the Germans to study the possibility of pcac-e negotiations. They were accompanied by a Dutch officer, supervising in the interests of our neutrality.” Reuter’s correspondent’s, commenting on The Haguo statement about the Venlo kidnapping, says: r ‘The fact is that a proposal for peace negotiations came from Germany. The Britishers concerned merely conveyed the German proposals to their authorities and, when kidnapped by the Gestapo, were going to the frontier to receive further proposals. ’ ’

The Daily Mail says Messrs Stevens and Best were acting with the knowledge of the British Government. They had been in communication with highlyplaced Germans for some time, but at no time did they convey British proposals nor commit the British Government in any course of action. They merely acted as “postmen.”

A Berlin official statement accuses the British Secret Service of sabotaging German, Italian and Japanese steamers between November, 1937, and November, 1938, sometimes destroying the ships and crews. ‘ 4 A statement by Mr. Stevens, who was captured at Venlo, plus our investigations, proves the agent was a German migrant named Poetzsch, who was sentenced at Copenhagen in July for espionage. The first ship of British origin which was the victim of a similar act was the Athenia,” the statement adds. Russia and Finland LATTER WILL NOT ACCEPT Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. MOSCOW, Nov. 23. Press and radio have reopened their attacks on the Finnish Government, asserting that “new data proves the extreme hostility of the Finnish rulers to the Soviet and reveals suspicions of a political game based on stiff resistance to Russia’s peace proposals.” A Helsinki report says M. Dajander, in a speech, said: “Finland sees no possibility of accepting the latest Russian proposals. Acceptance would constitute a violation of our neutrality and the transfer of first-class fortifications to a foreign Power. ’ ’

Ministry of Supply Places Large Orders HUNDREDS OP NEW CONTRACTS (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. Tho Ministry of Supply announced that during the week-end ended November 11 the amount in sterling of new orders placed was £8,615,000 and that, including firms dealing with clothing equipment and stores, 187 firms became new contractors to the department. It was pointed out that in an endeavour to find new capacity more than 520 firms became new contractors to tho department in the period of a fortnight, thus illustrating by gradual orders for tho growth of tho scope of tho Ministry’s purchases. Cheers for New Zealand PRAISE BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN LONDON, Nov. 23. Replying to a question by Mr. C. R. Attlee, leader of the Opposition, about New Zealand’s expeditionary force, Mr. Chamberlain said: “I am sure I am voicing the sentiments of all members by saying that we appreciated this further proof of New Zealand’s determination to do all in her power to bring about a successful issue in the cause in which we are engaged.” (General Cheers). Medical Steps to Deal With London Raids (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. Medical arrangements at the outbreak of war to deal with possiblo air raid casualties in London necessitated some 700 practitioners leaving their private practices, but as early as September 8 specialists engaged as wholetime , officers were offered an opportunity of returning to private practice. The bulk of the specialists will be able to return to their private practices, while only a nucleus medical staff will be employed full-time. Twenty-eight casualty evacuation trains with trained crews are in readiness day and night. Special measures are being taken to ensure the maintenance of cancer treatment. As far as X-ray treatment for cancer is concerned there is evidence of considerable activity at most of the big city hospitals. Explosion in Powder Factory Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. ROME, Nov. 24. Six were killed and two injured by an explosion in a military powder factory at Ivazanlik.