PLAIN SPEAKING

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 7

PLAIN SPEAKING

FOREIGN SECRETARY MEETING WITH GERMAN EMISSARY PERSECUTION OF JEWS (United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, May 10. Questioned in the House of Commons in regard to the visit to London of Herr Rosenberg, Herr Hitler’s lieutenant, Sir John Simon 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 the recent events in Xjie internal policy of Germany, and I 'explained to him with equal frankness the prevailing sentiment in this country on the subject.” It is becoming clear that Sir John Simon dealt with Herr Rosenberg as frankly as Mr Norman Davis (United States) did. The Foreign Secretary told him plainly that Nazi persecution of Jews had aroused strong feeling here, and had produced nation-wide reaction.

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 internal affairs. Any such interference would only aggravate extremist elements. The talk is described in influential political circles as polite, but unfriendly. WREATH DESTROYED OUTRAGE AT CENOTAPH. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) London, May 11. An unknown person arriving at the Cenotaph early in the morning, slashed and destroyed Herr Rosenberg’s wreath, then drove rapidly away. THE WREATH REMOVED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 1.5 a.m) London, May 11. There was another similar incident at the Cenotaph later. A member of the British Legion, a prospective Labour candidate for Parliament, drove up and removed the wreath as a “deliberate protest against the desecration of the Cenotaph by Herr Hitler’s hireling; also against the present barbarism in Germany.” BONFIRE OF BOOKS “UN-GERMAN” PUBLICATIONS. DEMONSTRATIONS BY NAZIS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, May 11. The biggest bonfire of books since the Middle Ages was lighted in the Opera Square at midnight. University students and Nazis committed 20,000 Marxist, pacifist, Jewish and other “unGerman” books to the flames. The square was crowded. The bonfire was unofficial. It followed a procession accompanied by a speech by Herr Goebels. Twenty thousand books by famous writers were consigned to a huge bonfire. Special venom was displayed during the burning of Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” and Feuchtwanger’s “Jew Suss.” A vast assembly witnessed the proceedings unemotionally. The demonstration was practically confined to Nazis. At .Frankfort thousands of books steeped in paraffin were burned, and there was similar book-burning in other German cities, including Munich, where the bonfire was preceded by a patriotic demonstration. Herr Schemrn, the Bavarian Minister of Education, in a speech said the Nazi revolution would fit Germany more than ever to lead the world.

SEIZURE OF PROPERTY BAN AGAINST NEWSPAPERS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, May 10. Hen- Hitler has banned the Star owing to its criticisms of the Nazis. In retaliation for his banning the Czechoslovakian newspapers, Czechoslovakia has prohibited the circulation of 200 German daily and weekly journals. The seized property includes 135 newspapers, numerous sports clubs and co-operative stores which are now placed under Nazi control. The Daily Herald says the seizure of Socialist property is evidence that Germany has rattled back to barbarism. The property is valued at over £3,000,000. “This is plain highway robbery.” it states.