FATEFUL DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23154, 28 September 1938, Page 16

FATEFUL DAY

FUEHRER'S WORDS TERRIFIC OVATION CEOWD'S ADULATION SNEEBS AT DEHOCBACY < BERLIN, Sept. 26 Efuge crowds assembled in the streets near the Sportspalast tonight, where Herr Hitler delivered his historic speech. Storm Troop units had taken up positions along the .route in the afternoon. Endless columns of singing Brown Shirts marched across the city to line the streets and fill the Sportspalast. Speech to Europe and World Dr. Goebbels, speaking first, said: "Tn this historic hour, which keeps all Europe breathless in suspense, you speak to Europe and the whole world. Your people are united. No threat, no pressuro from anywhere, could change us or our position." Herr Hitler began to speak at 8.20 p.m. He said: "German men and women, on February 22, for the first time, I voiced an unalterable claim in the German Reichstag. The nation listened and understood. One statesman (Dr. Sohuschnigg) did not understand. He was removed and my promise was fulfilled. "At Nuremberg I formulated the claim again, and again tho nation understood. "The incst difficult of all problems was the Polish problem. There was danger of war with Poland, which was not a democracy, but was ruled by one man. I succeeded in reaching an understanding with him and avoided danger of conflict. Wo are all convinced this is tho only way to achieve permanent peace. "It was a great deed for peace, outweighing all tho speeches at Geneva. I would not have succeeded in solving tho Polish problem if 80-called democracy had ruled. Democracies pretend to bo peaceful, but are bloodthirsty monsters. v ''l also attempted with other nations to normalise relations and offered Western Powers- inviolability to their territory. This is my sacred wish. 1

[ want nothing from them. What do they want from mop " "We want peace with Britain and we want nothing from France, only peace," declared Herr Hitler in the course of his speech. "I normalised relations with Italy, partly owing to my own success and partly to that of that rare and great man Italy so fortunately possesses. Our relations with Italy are now an alliance of hearts, not a marriage of convenience. "My effort for peace is not a mere phrase, but is confirmed by facts which no democratic liar may deny. There are two problems left. Ten million Germans living outside the Reich want to return. "There is a point where conciliation must end, because it would bo weakness. I would not have tho moral right to be the leader of the German people if I renounced this. It is the limit of complacency. The history of the union with Austria has confirmed that I am right. Violent Attack on o?ech President "Europe was torn up under the slogan of self-determination and re-divided by madmen regardless of historical nationalities. That is how Czechoslovakia camo into being. Czechoslovakia began with a lie. The father of it was Benes.

"I sympathise with the Hungarians, the Poles and the Ruthenians, but I speak only of tho fate of my own countrymen. "When Bones lied this State together he promised a cantonal system on the Swiss model, but instead he started a regime of terrorism. Germans tried to protest, but were shot. Then war and extermination began. Six hundred thousand Germans had to leave Czechoslovakia because thoy would have starved. Not Moved by Hatred or Rancour "Benes resolved to exterminate tho German race and succeeded in intimidating them and muzzling them." (Shouts of 'Hang him! Hang him!') "It became clear that the raison d'etro of Czechoslovakia was only to attack Germany. Bolshevism used Czechoslovakia as a roadway to Central Europe. "Tho aims of our foreign policy are not dependent on chance. Wo will decide how to preserve the German people. We shall protect our race and savo it. Once we were told wo woro going to live under the motto, Tlight of Selfdetermination.' This fdled all-Germans with immense hopes, but we liavo been deceived. "The result was Versailles. Our arms | were stolen and a defenceless Germany was*ill-treated. We were suppressed for 1 15 years. We are not moved by hatred | of others nor by rancour."