“YOU’RE NO FRIEND”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11248, 28 June 1922, Page 7

“YOU’RE NO FRIEN D”

nORTHCLEFFE’S’ GREETING IN GERMANY. COLLECTING FACTS. LONDON, June 8. Viscount Northcliffe, in the first article of a series entitled, “Incognito in Germany,” writes that when he announced at the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club his intention to visit Germany, the newspaper “Der Mittag ” savagely attacked him, saying: “This man is not coining to Germany to establish the truth and to proclaim it to England, but to forge and collect new weapons against us. If he oame to ns we should shut oar doors in his face.” Lord Northcliffe adds: “I am well aware that the German newspaper’s bark is often ferocious, and that the German himself, when properly tackled, is quite different in tone.” He relates that upon entering Germany he conversed with a master builder, who said that the building trade was never more prosperous. When Lord Northcliffe presented Mb card, the builder said: “You’re no friend to Germany.”. Lord Northcliffe replied: “I warned England and Germany that war was coming. I warned Germany and America that it was coming. They did not believe it. I have often spoken well of the German's bravery. I have come to Germany to try to help and to get facts.’’ The builder said, ‘‘Well, after all, the war bas been finished a long time,” and offered his hand, which Lord Northcliffe did not take. Both bowed. “He went back to his task of for-tune-making,” concludes Lord Northeliffe. “He had forgotten me at once, I felt sure.”