GHASTLY TYRANNY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23955, 2 November 1939, Page 7

GHASTLY TYRANNY

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS WHITE PAPER REVELATIONS WORLD OPINION SHOCKED (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY. Oct. 31. There is already evidence that the publication of the White Paper, with its authoritative revelations of conditions in the German internment camps and of the Nazi persecution of Protestants. Catholics and Jews, has profoundly shocked world opinion. In Britain it was not generally realised that the brutalities that marked the Nazi treatment of political prisoners in the first frenzy of the Nazi revolution was being continued five and six years afterwards towards the present-day occupants of the camps, and notably the Jews. The Daily Telegraph says: “ It would have been thought incredible that such marked savagery could exist in this century among civilised people who boast of their ‘ kultur.’ But the evidence is , both circumstantial and accredited by,'his Majesty’s Consuls in various German cities, as well as by reputable witnesses of the foul deeds of which they have themselves been victims. Most of these reports and testimonials relate to the conditions endured in the concentration camp at Buchenwald, near Weimar, where August Goethe sleeps. In this camp have been herded thousands of Jews and non-Jews, professional criminals being among the overseers. The unhappv creatures condemned to this camp have found themselves subjected to a system of deliberate torture of mind and body, from which the only deliverance has been death. The outside world has only to read these papers to realise that it is not merely democracy or political liberty that is at stake in the present struggle—it is civilisation itself; it is the very dignity of the human race.” “ Paganising Influence ” The Times says: “ Some day the ghastly tryanny of the Naiz regime must be repudiated by the German people themselves. In the meantime it is the duty of civilised countries to see that no foreign race should be forced to submit one moment longer than is necessary to its blighting and paganising ’influence.” The Manchester Guardian says: “The camps are in themselves signs of the abolition, of that acceptance of law which divides the civilised from the uncivilised state. But they are also a prime weapon of the Hitlerite system, a weapon of terrorism by which Nazism maintains itself, intimidates all possible opponents, avenges itself upon its victims, and breaks not only the bodies of those who actually suffer, but the spirit of those whom it may. Who cannot but wish that however the war ends Germany may free herself of this moral pestilence.” The Daily Herald says: “ Much of it has been known before, but here you have it, not as a newly-discovered war propaganda, but in the form of official documents received by the Foreign Office over the past two years.” The Yorkshire Post says probably the grimmest reading ever found within the sober covers of a British Government publication is afforded by the issue of this White Paper. The Daily Mail says the world, reading this damning document, will be able to judge the value of Hitler’s atrocity allegations against the Czechs and Poles. THE RULERS OF GERMANY RECORD STAINED BY ACTIONS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Oct. 31. The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking at a diocesan conference, asked if we could doubt that the world was now confronted by the menace of force, which was really and truly an evil. “Consider the persecution and cruelty inflicted on. a people whose only crime is their blood or their loyalty to religion and conscience,” he said. “ Consider all the most incredible miseries suffered in concentration camps which stain the record of the present rulers of Germany. We are using no mere language of exaggeration when we describe this spirit, armed with ruthless froce, as in truth satanic. There are some among us who feel passionately that the use of countervailing force, with all its terrible consequences, is against the mind of Christ. I must respect .their conscience, but I cannot doubt that a Christian citizen is fully justified in giving his support and service to his country.” HOLLAND SHOCKED PRESS PUBLISHES WHITE PAPER AMSTERDAM. Oct. 31. Holland has been shocked by theBritish White Paper on the Nazi atrocities, which the press published fully. LOSSES AT SEA —— , THE CAIRNMONA SUNK THREE MEN MISSING LONDON. Oct. 31. Three members of the crow of the British cargo steamer Cairnmona <4668 tons) are missing. Forty-one others were landed in lifeboats, following an explosion. The vessel was given no warning. . . Five of the Juno’s crew are missing. One survivor died. VESSEL CALLS FOR HELP SIGHTED A SUBMARINE NEW YORK. Nov. 1. (Received Nov. 1. at 11.45 p.m,). The British freighter Coulmore wirelessed for help, saying she had sighted a submarine. The ship was then silent. The United coastguard ship Campbell is hurrying to the scene, approximately 450 miles east of Massachusetts. SUNKEN SUBMARINES ALLIES’ CLAIMS DENIED LONDON. Oct. 31. A report from Berlin states that the Official News Agency denies the Allied statements that one-third of Germany’s U-boats have been sunk or damaged. The agency adds that the losses are confined to “three U-boats known to be overdue.”