BERLIN EN FETE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19237, 1 February 1937, Page 5

BERLIN EN FETE

HITLER’S GREAT WELCOME TRIBUTE BY COLLEAGUES “GREAT ARMY CREATOR” MILITARY DEMONSTRATION (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Feb. 1, 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, Jan. 30. There was almost a carnival atmosphere in the frost-bound centre of the city for Herr Hitler’s appearance at the Reichstag this afternoon. Evergreens and gilded emblems were everywhere. Even coke braziers-were dotted along the kerbs to keep the spectators warm.

The r.oute .was lined with unbroken ranks of Black Guards and police, and secret police were posted on the roof of the Reichstag to keep watch for the Fuhrer’s safety. Clad in a leather coat, Herr Hitler began the day standing sphinx-like in a motor car reviewing his 3000 6ft. tall bodyguard goose-stepping along the Wilhelmstrasse, while scores of loud speakers blared martial music.

' School children left their beds early to have the importance of the occasion impressed on their minds. Dr. Goebbels told them in a radio address that. “To be German is again to be honoured."

. Field-Marshal . von. Bl'omberg, in a broadcast, said: “What Herr Hitler lias done for the armed forces, places him in line with the greatest army creators in history.” BAN ON NOBEL PRIZES

Herr von Ribbentrop contrasted the Anglo-German naval agreement with the Franco-Soviet pact.. “We ask ourselves,” he said, “who has done more for the stabilisation of peace? We shall unhesitatingly continue along the road of amicable* agreements with every nation willing to come to an understanding.” After Herr Hitler had made his speech, General Goering rose to assure him that the lives of all Germans were his. He went on to describe the Moscow trial as “a put-up job.” No German Minister had ever conversed with M. Trotsky. He concluded by denouncing the Nobel Peace Prize award to a “convict” as an insult to Gennany and henceforth a German .national prize would replace the Nobel Prize which no German might accept.

A subsequent decree forbids Germans in future to accept Nobel Prizes and substitutes a German national prize foxart and science, valued at £BOOO distributable yearly to three Germans.

Herr Hitler wore a brown uniform. His hair was sleekly bi-ushed. He raised his eyebrows and snrugged his shouldei-s ironically whenever he referred to Mr. Eden. Neither the French or the British Ambassadors were present. TORCHLIGHT PROCESSIONS

An official explanation of Herr Hitler's reference to the Reichsbank says that the placing of the Reichsbank wholly under the sovereignty of Gennany would remove the last international restriction ■ imposed by the Reichsbank law, enabling it to be changed without international consent.

Dr. Schacht, the president, says that, unless he chooses, it need not be a member of the Bank for International Settlement.- Thus Germany resumes legts lative sovereignty in this field. To-night, tens of thousands of Storm Troopers marched in a torchlight procession past the Chancellery, where HenHitler, General Goering and Dr. Goebbels and other leaders stood on a floodlit balcony, responding to the cheering. The Cabinet had met previously and Herr Hitler conferred membership of the Nazi Party on all members, of the Cabinet not previously members, bestowing on them the gold party insignia. The recipients included Dr. Schacht and Field Marshal von Blomberg.

EXTRAVAGANCE BLAMED PLIGHT OF GERMANY HUGE SUMS FOR ARMS _____ i LONDON, Jan. 30. Computing on Germany’s official figures that she is spending £1,000,000,annually on arming, an article in the February issue of- The Banker saysi that Germany’s economic ills are mostly the result of rearmament, accentuated by extravagance in public expenditure. Drawing attention to the constant stream of propaganda from Germany, The Banker points out that it is very clear that, from the standpoint of the investor, Germany is a bottomless pit. The German political leaders are prepared to gamble with the lives of their people. Commenting on the colonial claims, The Banker argues that as the German colonies are of little economic value, it is hard to resist the conclusion that it isn’t the former German colonies that Germany requires, but the older and more developed possessions of other Powers. She could use her ex-colonies as bases for expansion of German influence in neighbouring territories. Any financial or territorial concessions would encourage a policy of blackmail.