Interview With Hitler

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 28 August 1939, Page 8

Interview With Hitler

REPORT OF BRITISH AMBASSADOR PERSONAL LETTER FOR MR CHAMBERLAIN COUCHED ON A “PACIFIC NOTE’’ [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright} (Received 28th August, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON. 27th August. I he British Ambassador in Berlin, Sir Nevil' e Henderson, who had an interview with Herr Hitler on Friday and came by air to London with a report to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, is returning to Germany by air to-day with the Cabinet s reply to Herr Hitler ■ It had been stated earlier in Government circles that the Ambassador was taking to London proposals which required an answer from Britain and which might necessitate the summoning of Parliament on 28th August. The decision of Sir Nevile Henderson to give a personal account to Lord Halifax of his long talk with Herr Hitler—it lasted well over an hour, but there was no second interview as erroneously stated in some reports clearly indicates his opinion that what the German Chancellor had to say was of considerable importance. Official quarters have given no indication of what passed between Sir Nevile and Herr Hitler. Speculation is discouraged. The Press and unofficial comment makes an assumption, founded on reports fcom Berlin, that the Ambassador has brought suggestions for a settlement by negotiation, and, while they are even more optimistic, they do not go so far as to hope that Herr Hitler’s immediate proposals would be such as the British Government would feel able to transmit to Poland. Some find encouragement in the fact that the Nazis would appear to have moved from the position that their claims on behalf of Germany against Poland cannot be made the subject of discussion Oi compromise. It is understood from authoritative sources, says an Independent Cable Service message, that Sir Nevile Henderson brought to Mr Chamberlain a personaHetter from Herr Hitler couched on a pacific note.

j tentative British suggestion for a sixmonth German-Polish truce as a pre- | liminary to negotiations, observed: “It j is unlikely that Britain will seek to ; | place him in the role of an adviser to I the British Foreign Office.”

FURTHER MEETING OF CABINET | It is officially stated that it is ex-1 pected that Sir Nevile Henderson will j return to Berlin on 28th August bearing i a reply to Herr Hitler. A further meeting of Cabinet will be j held at noon on 28th August. A Cabinet report says that reports appearing in the press regarding Herr Hitler’s communication are entirely unauthorised and quite inaccurate. The Cabinet meeting ended at 4.47 p.m. Inspired interpretations, or more or 1 less imaginary reconstruction of the interview should be treated with the j greatest scepticism. There are obvious, j ly interested quarters with much to | gain at the present moment in putting j about accounts of the meeting which ! reflect on the position taken up by either, or both parties. What can be stated with confidence is that Sir Neville Henderson himself was not armed with any instructions! such as would have enabled him to‘ discuss any suggestion on behalf of i the British Government. Whatever communication he brought with him is ! certain to receive the most serious attention of the British Government, j which has coupled every reiteration in j recent days ol its firmness in reacting i to aggression with a renewal of its ! advocacy of peaceful solutions, and i which it hns been at pains to display J the sympathy and appreciation with j which it is watching the efforts of King I Leopold, acting for th j Oslo Powers, and of the Pope and of Mr Roosevelt to rally the strength of the reason and moral authority of mankind against the possibility of war. AUDIENCE WITH KING Cabinet last nignt to receive a report from the Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax on the developments in the international situation, and they received from Sir Nevile Henderson a report of his anterview with Herr Hitler. Crowds which remained all day in Downing Street cheere ' the Ministers as they arrived for the Cabinet meeting. Sir Nevile Henderson was also cheered as he left No. 10 Downing Street to go to Buckingham Palace, where he had an audience with the King lasting an hour and 25 minutes. The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr R. A Butler, and Lord Cadogan were present at the d ; -cussions between Sir Nevile Henderson and M r Chamberland, and Lord Halifax. In the middle of the afternoon Lord Halifax receded the French and Polish Ambassadors at the Foreign Office, returning later to Downing Street.

The Dukes of Gloucester and Kent lunched with the King at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Earlier the King gave an audience of over an hour to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon.

(Received 28th August, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. The High Commissioners for New Zealand, Australia and Canada conferred with Sir Thomas Inskip (secretary of State for the Dominions) after the Cabinet meeting.

Crowds in Downing Street cheered dispersing Ministers.

The Admiralty has assumed control of merchant shipping, which is now under naval orders.

The King gave audience at 5.30 p m to Mr Chamberlain, who after an hour’s audience saw Mr A. Greenwood, deputy Leader of the Labour Opposition, at ao. 10 Downing Street.

The Duchess of Kent arrived by air from Yugoslavia.

KOOSEVELT KEEPING IN TOUCH A Washington message states that while Stale Department officials denied knowledge of the London report that Brlt,sh Cabinet’s reply to Herr Hi er. which Sir Nevile Henderson will convey to Berlin to-morrow, has ' been submitted to President Roosevelt, ' Ihe general feeling prevails that the I I resident is continuing constant com- ' inunication by telephone with officials ' in London and keeping close personal touch on efforts for a peaceable solu'ion. Added proof of this, as well as an indication that he considers the gravity of the situation undiminished was seen in the fact that he cancelled plans to go to Hyde Park fo r a few wThmgLT remain 3t hiS dCSk j Officials, commenting on . Lnnrtnn I i report that the Foreign Office asked I i President Roosevelt’s opinion oil