HITLER’S PEACE PROPOSALS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 26 October 1939, Page 10

HITLER’S PEACE PROPOSALS

ARTICLE IN “METHODIST TIMES” “Speaking with a deep sense of respon. sibility, we do not for a momeiu see how any other answer could have been returned.” is the comment of the “New Zealand Methodist Times” on Mr Chamberlain’s reply to Herr Hitler’s peace proposals. The article continues: “We know the argument of some of our pacifist friends that any kind of peace is preferable to a state of war. But we cannot accept that proposition. Peace with Hitler on the terms lie laid down would have meant condonation of crime, giving licence for further international depredations and putting our imprimatur on all the outrages of which the German leader has been guilty and all the unspeakable tragedy desolation, and misery he has caused “We feel bound to ask, how can there he peace with Hitler and his regime so long as they are bent on pursuing their nefarious policies, treading down down the independence of smaller nations destroying liberty and legitimate human aspirations on every hand, and all in the interests of an insane ambition to become the dictator of Europe. What a tissue of gross mis-statements was the fuehrers account of the events leading up to the crushing of Poland, and how grotesque this insistence that in no respects had he broken his word! The whole world to-day knows that to the German leader words are emptv sound, promises have no significance, the only law lie knows is that which promotes his own aggrandisement and the aggrandisement of Germany. What truck can there be with such a man? lie cannot be met on equal moral terms.

And so, utterly hateful though the prospect is, and containing however much of misery and woe, there seems no alternative but to go on until international lawlessness has been compelled to bite the dust and the cause of liberty and respect for international decency has received triumphant vindication.”*