ORDER TO SHOOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21853, 16 July 1934, Page 9

ORDER TO SHOOT

RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN CHANCELLOR'S ADMISSION WARNING TO ALL TRAITORS DEATH AS PUNISHMENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 15. G. 35 p.m.) BERLIN, July 14 The vital passage in Herr Hitler's speech in the Rtfichstag was as follows: —"At J a.m. on June 30 I received the last alarming telegrams, and at 2 a.m. I flew to Munich. General Goering had received orders from me that in case pureeing action was necessary he was to adopt similar measures in Berlin. With the iron fist he beat down the attack before it developed. "A very few men were at my disposal. If anyone raises the charge against me that we did not use the ordinary Courts I can only say that in this hour I was responsible for the fate of the nation, and felt that I had to be the supreme Court for 24 hours. "I gave the order to shoot those who were guilty of this treason. I gave the order to fell the mutineers who resisted arrest. 1 am ready before history to accept the responsibility for those 24 hours which contained the bitterest decisions of my life. "The allegation that Herr von Papen and other members of the Cabinet were connected with the mutineers is refuted by the fact that they were to have been murdered." A dramatic passage followed Herr Hitler's reference to his decision to suppress the plot in which lie said he was responsible for the fate of Germany, and had given orders to "burn the tumour down to the raw flesh.'' Continuing, the Chancellor said: "Everyone who lifts a hand against the State now knows death is his fate, whatever his rank.

"A foreign diplomat says his meeting with General von Schleicher and Roehm was harmless. Even though they talk only about the weather, if three traitors in Germany secretly meet a foreign statesman I will have them shot."

It is not intended to publish the names of the 77 dead. No further disr closure is to ho made about the details beyond Herr Hitler's speech. In opening the People's Court, the Minister of Justice, Dr. Guertner, stated that foreigners who considered it a revolutionary tribunal and doubted whether justice would be donr did not comprehend Germany's love of justice. Further tension between the Nazis and industrialists has led to the resignation of Dr. Pictsch, leader of the chemistry industry. It is believed to have been due to the difficulty of reconciling the Nazis' economic theory with the practical demands of industry.

RUTHLESS SLAUGHTER "NOTHING CAN CONDONE" REICHSTAG'S EMPTY SEATS (Received July 15. 6:35 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON. July 15 The Berlin correspondent of the Times says: "Within the crowded Reichstag on Friday the few empty seats were more eloquent than all those that were occupied. The Secretary of State filled Herr Roehm's place, but all remembered that Herr Roelim had attended the last sitting. "The three front rows in the gallery, customarily occupied by the Ambassadors from Britain, America and France, were significantly empty." Little comment is available on Herr Hitler's speech, the reports of which were too late for editorial articles in Saturday's London morning newspapers.

The Sunday Times says: "Nothing can be held to condone the ruthless slaughter for which Herr Hitler was responsible. It appears that he had known of the existenco of the plot for a considerable time. The proper action would have been to arrest and send for trial the offenders, not violence reminiscent of St. Bartholomew's night." The German newspapers all record how Herr Hitler, exposed to treachery, saved Germany.

The comments in the Austrian press are hostile. The Neuesweiner Zeitung says: "Hitler has failed to answer the questions the civilised world cannot but ask."

INTERNATIONAL PRESS REPLY TO CRITICISM TRADITIONS OF PROFESSION (Received July 15, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, July 14 After considering Dr. Goebbels' accusations of misrepresentation 60 members of the International Press Association decided by 55 votes to five that world opinion already had answered his charges. They emphasised their adherence to truth in accordance with tho traditions of tho profession.