SOCIALIST PROPERTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21951, 12 May 1933, Page 9

SOCIALIST PROPERTY

SEIZED BY THE NAZIS "PLAIN HIGHWAY ROBBERY" (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 10. The Daily Herald says: "The seizure of Socialist property is evidence that Germany has been rattled back to barbarism. The property is valued at over £3,000,000. This is plain highway robbery. NAZIS ASSUME CONTROL BERLIN, May 10. The seized property includes 135 newspapers and numerous sports clubs and co-operative stores, which are now placed under Nazi control.

THE BAN ON NEWSPAPERS

CZECHOSLOVAKIA RETALIATES.

LONDON, May 10.

Herr Hitler has banned the Star owing to its criticisms of the Nazis. In retaliation for his banning Czechoslovakian newspapers, Czechoslovakia has prohibited the circulation of 200 German daily and weekly journals. *

BONFIRE OF BOOKS ■• UN-GERMAN " PUBLICATIONS. BERLIN, May 11. (Received May 11, at 8 p.m.) The biggest bonfire of books since the middle ages was lighted in Opera square at midnight, when university students and Nazis committed 20;000 Marxist, Pacifist, Jewish, and other " Un-German " books to the flames. The square was crowded. —Times Cable. BONFIRES IN SEVERAL CITIES \ p • BERLIM, i\lay 11. (Received May 11, at 10.30 p.m.) The bonfire of books in Opera square, which was unofficial, followed a procession, and was accompanied by a speech by Dr Goebels. Twenty thousand books by famous writers were consigned to the huge bonfire, and special venom was displayed during the burning of Remarque's " All Quiet on the Western Front," and Feuchtwanger's " Jew Sus # s." A vast assembly witnessed the proceedings without emotion, and the demonstration was practically confined to the Nazis. At Frankfort thousands of books were steeped in parrafin and burned. There were similar book burnings in other German cities, including 15 in Munich, which were preceded by a patriotic demonstration. Herr Schemm, the Bavarian Minister of Education, in a 'speech, said that the Nazi revolution would fit Germany more than ever to lead the world.

HERR ROSENBERG'S VISIT

LONDON, May 11

(Received May 11, at 8 p.m.) An unknown person who arrived at the Cenotaph early in the morning slashed and destroyed Herr Rosenberg's wreath, and then drove rapidly away. It is becoming clear that Sir John Simon dealt- with Herr Rosenberg as frankly as Mr Norman Davis did. The Foreign Secretary told him plainly that the Nazi persecution of Jews had aroused a strong feeling here, and produced a reaction throughout the nation. Herr Rosenberg expressed regret and assured Sir John Simon that the situation was becoming normal, but he insisted firmly that Germany would brook no interference in her internal affairs. Any such interference would only aggravate the extremist element.

The talk is described in influential political circles as polite but unfriendly.

Herr Rosenberg, Herr Hitler's envoy, conferred with' Sir John Simon, Lord Hailsham, and Mr Norman Davis. HenRosenberg wanted to ascertain Britain's reactions to Hitlerism. The conference with Mr Davis lasted two hours. It is understood that the latter emphasised that America in no circumstances would consent to Germany's rearmament, and regarded Germany's G eneva policy as an obstance in the path of the Disarmament Conference, consequently casting.a shadow on the World Conference. Furthermore, America considered that Germany was tending to become a disturber of European peace.

TALKS AT FOREIGN OFFICE

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 10. (Received May 11, at 9 p.m.)

Sir John Simon, when questioned with regard to Herr Rosenberg's visit, said: "The German Embassy requested that this gentleman should be received at the Foreign Office. The Permanent Undersecretary saw him on Monday and I had a conversation with him yesterday. He gave me some information as to recent events in the internal policy of Germany and I explained to him with equal frankness the prevailing sentiment in this country on the subject."

WREATH REMOVED ,

LONDON, May 11. (Received May 12, at 1.30 a.m.) Later there was another similar incident, where a member of the British Legion and a prospective Labour parliamentary candidate drove up and removed the wreath as a "deliberate protest against the desecration of the Cenotaph by Hitler's hireling and agamst the present barbarism in Germany.'l