GERMAN PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 12

GERMAN PLIGHT

DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION SERIES OF BLUNDERS HYSTERIA IN SPEECH BANKRUPTCY OF POLICY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 'J7, •V." p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Oct. ~0 Further examination of neutral opinion on von Ribbentrop's speech confirms the early impression that it has done nothing to modify the view abroad that. Germany is deservedly almost isolated in the present struggle. Considered opinions now expressed by responsible English newspapers agree that his special pleading and invective -were addressed to the German people, who, says the Daily Telegraph, have been screened by Dr. Goebbels' propaganda department from contact with truth and have been disciplined to limitless credulity. "But there aro two damning facts which cannot be concealed fi'om the outer world, however they are reconeilablo.to the German conscience—rape of Czecho-Slovakia in flat defiance of Hitler's promise and the spoliation of Poland," i*ie paper adds. "Those are hardly the achievements of a Government which, as von Ribbentrop claims, lias done its best to avoid war. Nor do they inspire confidence in the renewal of protestations that the German frontiers are now definitive, that stable conditions have now been created in Europe, and that the consolidation of ! the Reich has been concluded." "Bungler's Apologia" The Times, which describes the speech as a "bungler's apologia," recalls the failure of von Ribbentrop's mission as Ambassador in London, and says this first failure has been followed by "a series of blunders which has landed Germany in the worst diplomatic position in which she has ever found herself —far worse than that in which, with her allies round her, she stood at the beginning of the last war. "The Danzig speech suggests that von Ribbentrop has in fact abandoned the uncongenial role of diplomatist for that of blustering ' demagogue," the paper says. "To those who listened to it the dominant note of his harangue was hysteria, arid hysteria is a bad basis on which to conduct what the Nazis themselves describe as a war of nerves. "Almost the only true statement which he made in the course of it was that the British people would at heart like to live in friendship with the German people, and it was perhaps the consciousness in bis own heart that he and the Fuehrer had between them made this impossible that drove him to make the fantastic charges of a man who feels himself cornered and lashes out right and left." Own People Antagonised The Times adds there is not the slightest doubt that von Ribbentrop has antagonised large sections of opinion in his own country —honest Nazis and others who genuinely consider Communism is evil, Rosenberg theorists who believe in the doctrine of expansion north-eastward, admirals who do not care to see the Baltic become a Russian lake, and industrialists who looked to South-eastern Europe for German trade. All these in greater or lesser degree bad seen their hopes dashed and their aims miscarried. The author of their disillusionment was now trying by bluster and false charges to absolve himself from the consequences of his own ineptitude and to put upon the generals responsibility for getting the country out of the difficult position into which he had thrust it. He ended his lamentable speech with a call to that war against Britain which itself falsified his 1 own forecasts and declared the bankruptcy of his own policy.

ITALIAN ATTITUDE SHORTENING THE WAR EFFORTS BEING CONTINUED LONDON, Oct. 26 The Rome newspaper La Tribuna states that Italy, while taking no military initiative, at least at present, will continue to make <?very effort to shorten the war in accordance with the desire of all the belligerents, who hope that hostilities will be localised. The Rome radio, while ascribing the war "in a large degree to the errors of Versailles," admits that the actual spark which set Europe ablaze was the German invasion of Poland.

TRADE WITH RUSSIA QUESTION OF RESTORATION POSSIBLE BARTER BASIS LONDON, Oct. 20 Replying in the House of Lords to a suggestion that trade with Russia should he restored, the Foreign Minister, Viscount Halifax, said the Soviet's action in the Baltic States had caused anxiety. The situation was not clear at present. The Government was greatly pleased with the maintenance of good relations between Russia and Turkey. Referring to Poland. Lord Halifax said the Government would not recoil from its pledges to Poland. It made no difference to the Poles whether they were invaded from the east or the west. "1 think in spite of Russia's- professed economic solidarity with Germany she now appears willing to trade impartially with all belligerents," he added. "The British Government has already taken advantage of that attitude and made an agreement for the exchange of timber for rubber and tin, and is now examining the possibility of further trade on a barter basis."

FAMOUS GERMAN RECRUITS (Received October '27, 5.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, Oct. 26 The German tennis player von Cramm has joined up in the German Arinv. The heavy-weight boxer Max Schmeling is also reported to have offered his services. VOLUNTEERS FOR ARMY (Received October 27, |<'>.:;<> p.m.) ■ LONDON. Oct. U"! Ihe War Office announces that the Army is now accepting volunteers between 22 and years of age for the cavalry, artillery, engineers and infantry.