“RESTORATION OF WRONG DONE TO GERMAN NATION”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 22 June 1940, Page 8

“RESTORATION OF WRONG DONE TO GERMAN NATION”

1 United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 22nd June, 2 p.m.) BERLIN, 21st June. Ihe news agency stated that Herr Hitler received the French delegation at 3.30 p.m. in the forest of Compiegne. Herr Hitler was accompanied by Herr von Ribbentrop, Herr Hess, General von Brauchitsch. and General von Keitel. The meeting was held in the same railway carriage in which Marshal Foch dictated the Armistice in 1918. The carriage since then has been exhibited in Paris. Herr Hitler himself handed over the terms. The news agency announced that to-day’s action in the Forest of Compiegne expunged the wrongs done to German military honour. The dignified treatment of an honourably defeated enemy contrasted with the memorial at this place testifying to the eternal hatred with which Gallic contempt scorned an undefeated enemy. At Herr Hitler’s order General Keitel read the preamble to the armistice conditions. “At the order of the leader of the supreme command of the German defence forces I have to make the following communication: ‘Trusting to the assurance given to the German Reich by President Wilson and confirmed by the Allied Powders, the German defence forces laid down their arms in November, 1918. Thus ended a w T ar which the German people and its Government had not wanted and in wbich, despite vastly superior forces, the enemy failed to defeat the German army, navy and air force. At the moment of the arrival of the German Armistice Commission there began a breach of the promise solemnly given. On l 1 th November, 1918, there began in this very train a period of suffering for the German people. Whatever could be done to the nation in the way of dishonour and humiliation in human material suffering began at this point. “Broken promises and perjury were used against a nation which after over four years of heroic resistance showed only one weakness, namely believing in the promises of democratic statesmen.

“On 3rd September, 1939, twenty-five years after the outbreak of the world war, Britain and France declared war against Germany without reason. Now the war has been decided by arms and France is defeated. The French Government asked Germany to make known the German conditions for an armistice. If the historic Forest of Compiegne was chosen for handing over the terms of this it was done in order to wipe out once and for all a memory which was not glorious for France and which was felt by the German nation as deepest shame of all times. “After heroic resistance France has been defeated in a single bloody battle and has collapsed. Germany therefore not intend to give armistice negotiations with such a brave opponent a shameful character. PURPOSE OF DEMANDS The purpose of the German demands is, firstly, to [ prevent the resumption of the fight; secondly, to give Germany all safeguards for continuation of the war against Britain, which was forced upon Germany, and in addition to create preliminaries for the construction of a new peace, the essential contents of which will be the restoration of the wrong done with violence to the German nation. The news agency adds that after hearing the reading of | the preamble Herr Hitler left the scene of the negotiations to i the strains of the German national anthem. i NO INDICATION OF REPLY (Received 22nd June, 2.13 p.m.) RUGBY, 21st June. I here is no indication of the reply tendered by the French delegates.