CAUSE OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 12

CAUSE OF WAR

BRITAIN- BLAMED NAZI VERSION "CHALLENGE" ACCEPTED TO" BITTER FINISH By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 25. 6.30 p.m.) ; LONDON, Oct, 25 Heralded by rolling drums and all tho pageantry typical of a Nazi rally the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, told a Danzig audience that Britain was responsible for tho war by her anti-German press campaign, by her guarantee to Poland, and by her rejection of Hitler's peace proposals, announced on October 6. "Germany takes up the British challenge—tho end can only be a decisive German} victory," ho said, in a speech that lasted for 75 minutes. French and Peace "There is not tho slightest doubt that the French did not want war, and would prefer peace to-day rather than to-morrow," von Ribbontrop added. "Britain forced war on the French. The British Government is now playing a dangerous gamo with tho future __ of its Empire, and if it persists it may go down in history as the grave-digger of tho British Empiro." Von said part of tho world praised tho Munich Pact as Mr. Chamberlain's great work for peace. Nothing' could bo more false. Britain's promise of assistance to the Czechs transformed into a European crisis a —' problem which, without interference, would have been solved overnight. Mr. Chamberlain went home and presented a gigantic armaments programmo. "Secretly Prepared" "I can prove beyond all doubt," he added, this war was systematically and secretly prepared for years by the British Government. Mr. Chamberlain went to Munich not to prevent war, but to postpone it until British rearmament was completed." Herr von Ribbentrop said there had been an attempt to make Danzig and the Reich responsible for this war, but in tho truest sense the war had been imposed on Germany. After Hitler in 1934 undertook to build new relations between Germany nnd Poland with Marshal Pilsudski German/- never left Poland in doubt that sooner or later the problems of Danzig and the Corridor would have to be solved. German Offer to Poland "On October 14, 1938, at Berchtesgaden," added von Ribbentrop, "I submitted an offer to M. Josef Lipski, the Polish Ambassador, under which Danzig would bo reincorporated politically in the Reich, while remaining economically dependent on Poland. Also, oxtraterritorial roads and railways would bo established. Hitler repeated the offer on January 5, 1939. "The offer was not rejected, but simultaneously it was noticeable that there was a stiffening in the Polish attitude toward the German minorities, and - also anti-German demonstrations. "M. Lipski replied on March 6, in a Note which was a complete rejection of tho- offer. It seems incredible, but it is' a fact that M. Lipski told mo that any pursuance of tho German plans would mean war with Poland. 1 was dumbfounded. Colonel Beck, the Polish foreign Minister, also declined an invitation to visit Berlin. "Answer to the Riddle" "To-day we have the answer to the riddle of Poland's incomprehensible answer to Hitler's magnificent offer. Britain was behind it. "Hitler has nob even touched the vital interests of the democracies. The democracies, nevertheless, opposed us. Again and again they rejected Hitler's overtures. Germany is now determined to wage war against Britain and her Allies to the bitter finish, and until security for Germany in Europe is asBured for all time." HALTING CONFLICT m HOPES APPARENT BELIEF OF ITALIANS MORE RIGID NEUTRALITY (Received October 25, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 21 Herr von Ribbentrop's speech, liko Hitler's speech in the Reichstag, has Eerved to convince tho Italians that there are no hopes of halting tho war, and that therefore they had better keep out of it even more rigidly than before, Bays the Rome correspondent of the New York Times. listening to the wireless broadcast 'of the speech noted a lack of cheering when the friendship between Germany and Italy was mentioned. On tho contrary," when Russia was mentioned, tho crowd applauded long and loudly. Thus .Italy was shown again that tho Berlin-Moscow Axis means more to Germany at present than the Rome-Berlin Axis. The Italians were glad to hear a reiteration of Hitler's promiso that he wants no more territory in Europe, and they appreciated tho complimentary references to Italy. Beyond that, tho speech would havo left them indifferent if it wero not for the demonstration of bitterness toward England killing any hopes of peace. REASONABLE PEACE FEELING IN BRITAIN (Received October 25, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON. Oct. 21 The Archbishop of York, Dr. William Temple, speaking at Scarborough, said the people of this country would desire to make an entirely reasonable peace with tho people of Germany when the latter had a Government which v/i\s reliable and trustworthy.