Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1938 HERR HITLER’S GESTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 January 1938, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1938 HERR HITLER’S GESTURE

No doubt the British Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip) indicated the attitude of Mr Chamberlain and his colleagues towards the German Government, when, referring to the Fuehrer’s statement that “Peace is the goal of my work and that of the Reich Government,'’ he said “I am prepared to accept Herr Hitler’s statement at its face value and build upon it a happier relation between Germany and Britain.’’ That surely is holding out an olive branch to the German Dictator and his vast following of Nazis, with a view to creating an atmosphere conducive to the maintenance of peace in Central Europe. Herr Hitler said, some years ago, that Germany’s expansion should be, not towards the west, but towards the east where lie the vast plains of Russia, sparsely populated and capable of maintaining many more millions of people, if they were farmed scientifically by an intelligent population, capable of making the most of the advantages offered in the new country. No one will dispute Herr Hitler’s peaceful asseverations, but it is to be noted that the British Government has pursued, and is still pursuing, with great activity the creation of an adequate air force. Britain has no fear of France, Belgium, or Holland, her nearest neighbours on the Continent. But her vast expenditure on defence continues. The reason is distrust of the intentions of the German and Italian Dictators, and of their followers. Hitler and Mussolini could set Europe ablaze any day, if they thought fit, or rather if their followers thought fit—and nobody knows what may be in the minds of those followers. Therefore Britain prepares for any emergency, for hers is a great heritage, for whose safety and well-being she is responsible. The British Government is right to accept Hitler’s peaceful declaration. It is also right to take every defensive precaution.