SITUATION IN EUROPE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 March 1933, Page 5

SITUATION IN EUROPE

MOST SERIOUS SINCE 1914 DEVELOPMENTS IN GERMANY HITLER IN POWER FRANCE UNDISGUISEDLY ALARMED {United Presß Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright? LONDON, 12th March. The entire Sunday press emphasises the danger of the present situation in Europe, which is described as the most serious since 1914. The papers declare that Mr MacDonald’s and Sir John Simon’s real mission to Geneva is to prevent an almost immediate conflagration. Events in Germany have developed so rapidly since Hitler came to power that anxiety is expressed in several capitals lest, flushed with victory, he may determine to invade the Polish Corridor. France is undisguisedly alarmed, both at this fear and at the manner of Hitler and armed Nazis, Steel Helmets, and police. One paper suggests that the position is so serious that an attempt may be made to induce Hitler and Mussolini to meet British and French statesmen on the borders of Italy. Austria is believed to be on the point of uniting with Hungary for the restoration of the Hapsburgs.

UNDERSTANDING FAVOURED “BUT ONLY AMONGST EQUALS’’ STATEMENT BY HITLER BERLIN, 12th March. “I favour an understanding among all nations, but this can only be reached among equals,” said Hitler, addressing 20,000 on the eve of the municipal elections. “We are ready to offer hands, but people to-’day only, want our mpney.” PLEDGE REFUSED BRITISH SUPPORT FOR FRANCE LONDON, 11th March. • Several Paris correspondents affirm that Nazi rule in Germany figured largely in the discussions between Mr MacDonald and M. Daladier, who is represented as trying hard, but vainly, to secure h pledge of British support in the event of trouble. MR LLOYD GEORGE SYMPATHY WITH GERMANY LONDON, Ufh M^rch. “As one of the drafters of a very stern Treaty, I say that Germany has honourably fulfilled the disarmament clauses. It was our part to see that we and the other signatories followed suit,’’-declared Mr Lloyd George, speaking in support of Mr Kedward, Liberal candidate for Ashford by-election. “But some armaments have risen annually, while German have been kept down. A proud and brave people will not stand that everlastingly. Consequently Germany has been driven to an aggressive military dictatorship, menacing world peace, and fatal to disarmament.”

THE CORRIDOR

MILITARY ACTIVITY BERLIN, 11th March. Despite the Polish Government’s denials the “Oglischer Rundschau,” Schleicher’s organ, asserts that Polish troops are concentrated at various border points. There is unusual military activity throughout the Corridor. Nearly three hundred military aeroplanes are assembled at one aerodrome. The tank unit at Posen has been increased from 35 to 85. Troops and aeroplanes continue to arrive at Gydnia, while Dirchau looks like a war camp. Troop movements are occupying between Gydnia and Preusstchtarg with the object of surrounding Danzine. SPARKS FROM DANZIG PARIS, 11th March. . Sparks from Danzig may easily start another war conflagration, declares Dr. Ziehm, president of the Danzig Senate, who is proceeding to Geneva in connection with the Westerplatte dispute. Polish machine guns and mine throwers, landed in violation of international right, can explode too easily. If the League failed it would be another blow from which it would be difficult to recover.

FURTHER NAZI CONTROL SAXONY AND BADEN BERLIN, 10th March. The Governments of Saxony and Baden have resigned. Herr von Killinger, on behalf of the Reich, placed the Nazis in charge of the Saxon Ministries, and a new Government is being formed in Baden. The Governments of Bavaria and Saxony will be reformed without elections, on the basis of Sunday’s vote, giving the Nazis predominance everywhere. The police dispersed Brown Shirts who were picketing Jewish shops. Austrians and Czechs seeking visas bear traces of beatings. Many Jews have left Germany, and others are departing. The Upper Silesian Catholic Press has been suppressed. The mayors of two suburbs and other officials were arrested. Three men were found shot at Wansen, and two Communists were killed at Lnnbaek when attempting to escape. LONDON, 10th March. “The Times” Berlin correspondent states that the “Tageblatt” was suspended and all copies seized because, while citing the masterliness of the Nazi coup, it deprecated silence about unjustifiable actions, including unauthorised arrests.

. CLEANSING THE STAGE BERLIN, 10th March. The manager of a Berlin theatre was dragged to the forest, where b.azis beat him until he was rescued by the police. The Nazi* declare an inten-

tion of cleansing the stage from the dirt and rubbish hitherto displayed, ancl are replacing the theatre managers. ALLEGED BREACH OF TREATY PARIS, 10th March. Frauco-British official circles regard the enrolment of storm troops in the police as a breach of the Versailles Treaty, necessitating diplomatic representations. THE RHINELAND NAZIS’ OCCUPY BARRACKS (“Times" Cables) LONDON, 11th March. “The Times” Strasbourg correspondent reports that a hundred local Nazis reoccupied Kahl barracks. The leader in a speech said Franco was now obliged to accord better treatment to Germany than hitherto. “The Times” Vienna correspondent states that all political meetings were prohibited. Mounted and foot police guard halls. Dollfuss warned VicePresident Straffner that his effort to convene Parliament might plunge the nation in disaster. The Government would forcibly prevent the session. REPUBLICANISM - BAVARIAN ORGANISATION DISSOLVED BERLIN, 11th March. The Republican Reichsbanner organisation throughout Bavaria" was dissolved and the display of its flags and badges prohibited. The police confiscated its property. GERMANY’S EMBLEM OLD EMPIRE FLAG RESTORED LONDON, 11th March. The “Daily Mail’s” Berlin correspondent states that Hitler issued orders restoring the old empire flag as Germany’s emblem. WILL NOT BETOLERATED SOCIALIST TRADE UNIONS BERLIN, 11th March. Goering told a Swedish interviewer that Germany would not tolerate the existence of Socialist trade unions. The whole movement would be reconstructed on a national basis, as in Italy. Luther is reported to be resisting Hitler’s demand to use the Reichsbank’s reserve to finance unemployment schemes. It is rumoured that his resignation is imminent and Scliacht is mentioned as his successor.

ANTI-HITLER DEMONSTRATION AT MADRID MADRID, 10th March. The police dispersed hundreds of students and Communist agitators marching to the German Embassy, crying “Death to Hitler! Down with Fascism!” MINIATURE COUPS BY INDIVIDUAL NAZIS JEWS AND COMMUNISTS MANHANDLED BERLIN, 11th March. Following the general seizure of power, individual Nazis have begun unauthorised miniature coups. Notably Strictler has proclaimed himself Commissioner of North Bavaria. . He marched to Nuremburg at the head of storm troops, causing Stahlhelm’s to strongly protest to the Government. A Nazi has appointed himself Lord Mayor of Altona, and he arrested four senators and several officials.

Storm troops occupied Breslau exchange and suspended business. They also invaded the law courts and expelled Jewish judges and lawyers. There were numerous similar arrests of mayors in many towns. Another hundred political arrests were made in Berlin, where it is now disclosed that a number of Jews and Communists, arrested in the early days of Hitler’s rule, were manhandled and confined to a dark cellar, being almost foodless. To-day they were taken to the police station. The police at Hamburg closed big stores including Woolworth’s, “in the interests of public security.” Auxiliaries in Wurtemberg throughout the night arrested Communists who were dragged from their beds and taken to unknown destinations. Two hundred Communist officials "were arrested at Stuttgart. Communists are not invited to the opening of the Reichstag on the 21st March. If they attend they will be arrested.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS QUIETLY CONDUCTED (Received 13th March, 8.40 a.m.} BERLIN, 12th March. The municipal elections in Prussia and other States were quietly conducted. A Berlin resident dropped dead while voting. The polling was much lighter than on the 4th March', because the Nazi predominance makes a constitutional mandate superfluous.

AMERICAN JOURNALIST ARRESTED BERLIN, lltli March. Jacob. Lestchinsky, correspondent of the New York daily paper “Forward,” has been arrested and threatened with expulsion for “compromising Germany in the eyes of America.” TORTURE OF OPPONENTS , ALLEGATIONS AGAINST NAZIS (Received 13th March, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, 12th March. The "Daily Herald” correspondent, who reached' Prague from Berlin, says that only by leaving Germany is he able to reveal details of Nazi torturings of opponents. He alleges that a number of Communists were thrust into a room, forced to raise their arms and shout “We love Hitler,” arid sing Nazi songs. They were then terribly beaten with whips and truncheons, and one died. One Reich-, banner man was locked in a cell where he could neither sit nor lie down. He was kept, there for two days _ and dragged out periodically to bo kicked and ill-treated. His hair was shaved and his scalp painted white. Ho was onlv released when he signed an undertaking to remain politically neutral. These and many more cases occurred

in Berlin, and similar torturings have been carried out in most provincial centres. IN AUSTRIA GREAT UNEASINESS C‘Time»’’ Cables) LONDON, 11th March. “The Times” Vienna correspondent states that Straffner threatens action against anyone impeding the session. Great uneasiness prevails. The “Arbri ter Zeitung” charges the Government with a breach of the Constitution in connection with defence measures which may unleash civil war, and calls Socialists to rally against the Government.

GENEVA PROBLEM

URGENCY RECOGNISED EUROPEAN SITUATION British Official Wireless) RUGBY l*th March. The Prime Minister and Sir John Simon arrived at Geneva from Paris this morning. Captain Eden, who has been British delegate during the recent proceedings of the Disarmament Conference, met the Ministers and informed them of the development of the conference during the past few days. Later in the morning, Mr Henderson called on Mr MacDonald and dis-cussed with him measures necessary to effect concrete decisions with as lit tic delay as possible. Earlier in the morning the Prime Minister saw M. Benes, rapporteur of the Conference, and arrangements were made for other visits during the day from M. Bourquin, of Belgium, chairman of the effective committee, Baron Aloisi (Italy), and Mr Hugh Wilson (United States). It is recognised that immediate mea'sures are necessary to save the Disarmament Conference and the attitude from which this problem was viewed during yesterday’s Anglo-French conversations in Paris is sufficiently indicated in the phrase of an official communique : “Tha urgency of the Geneva problem, especially in relation to the actual European situation, was fully recognised by Ministers, who declared themselves determined to seek, in agreement with representatives of other States, all means of safeguarding the peace of the world.”