Nazi Leaders Study Roosevelt Speech In Sorrow, Disappointment

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1941, Page 6

Nazi Leaders Study Roosevelt Speech In Sorrow, Disappointment

(Received 30.30 a.m.)

LONDON, January 2. ‘"THE TIMES” CORRESPONDENT ON THE GERMAN FRONTIER SAYS HITLER AND THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER (RIBBENTROP) WERE ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY IN CONFERENCE AFTER RECEIVING THE TEXT OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH, STUDYING ITS PURPORT FROM EVERY CONCEIVABLE ANGLE.'

A Willielmstrasse spokesman told foreign correspondents that a formal reply was possible.

He added that Mr. Roosevelt’s pronouncement was such _ a momentous challenge that Germany would have to reply, otherwise it would be tantamount to Hitler capitulating on fundamentals concerning which there could be no compromise.

Hitler’s Plans Upset.

The significance of President Roosevelt’s talk has not apparently been lost on Hitler, whose New Year proclamation to the German people is regarded in London as that of a man whose grandiose calculations have been completely upset by the American exposure of his designs and the British resistance to their execution.

“The Times” regards the proclamation as more sober than some of Hitler’s recent outpourings, but finds in it abundant proof, if proof be needed, “of malignant militaristic ambitions.” The paper asks: “Where was the new order when Hitler began the war on Poland ? ” Placation Hopeless. One feature of the proclamation which attracted attention was its inw plicit recognition of the hopelessness of attempts to placate the United States, and the familiar references to “have” nations were clearly intended to cover America. Hitler’s attacks on the democracies as greedy capitalists, “oppressing nations and gathering together their socalled wealth,” is obviously designed for internal consumption, since it can hardly be expected to convince those with -experience at first hand of Nazi exploitation or spoliation. Germany is in fact, now busily engaged in making herself a “have” power at the expense of her “have not” neighbours. J