APPEAL TO LEADERS

Southland Times, Issue 23624, 27 September 1938, Page 7

APPEAL TO LEADERS

MR ROOSEVELT’S MOVE PEACEFUL SOLUTION URGED INCREASE IN ANTI-GERMAN FEELING IN U.S.A.

Press . Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received Sept. 26, 11.10 p.m.)

NEW YORK, September 26. The President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) today made a direct personal appeal to Herr Hitler and the Czech President (Dr Eduard Benes) to settle their controversies by negotiation and to preserve the peace of the world. A message was also sent to the Prime Ministers of Britain and France expressing the hope of 130,000,000 Americans that the controversy would be settled without a resort, to arms. Mr Roosevelt called the nations’ attention to their obligations under the Kellogg-Briand Pact, reminding them that even should these avenues of settlement be obstructed-other methods of arbitration were available. “The Americans’ sole desire is peace,” said Mr Roosevelt, “but they are mindful of the fact that the United States could not escape some of the consequences of iwar.” “For the sake of all humanity, Mr Roosevelt appealed to the statesmen not to break off their negotiations. A rising tide of 'anti-German feeling is indicated by attacks from the pulpit and militant demonstrations. A gathering of 20,000 in Madison Square Garden called on the United States, in the event of war, to prohibit all traffic with Germany. Those present contributed 25,000 dollars to the Czechoslovakian Red Cross.

A meeting of the’National Convention of Workers’ Affiance at Cleveland passed a resolution demanding that Mr Roosevelt should immediately declare that the United States favours full support of Czechoslovakia, and also demanded the prohibition of shipments of arms to Germany, Italy and Japan. The resolution claimed that the United States’s failure to take sides was “playing into the hands'of the fascist warmakers.”

Mr Roosevelt in a message of greeting at the Jewish New Year said: It is my sincere hope that the path which we now but dimly perceive will soon be found to lead to the road of world peace and justice.” ( INFLUENCE OF CZECH REPLY BRITISH COMMUNICATION TO HITLER (Received September 27,12.50 p.m.) LONDON, September 26. The Cabinet met at noon and the meeting ended at 1.10 p.m. The Australian Associated Press understands that a factor prompting Sir Horace Wilson’s mission was the receipt in London during the night of the official Czech reply, reported to be the rejection of Herr Hitler’s ultimatum. , One of the difficulties at the moment is to ascertain the exact nature of France’s undertaking to the Czechs, on which Britain’s position hinges, says the correspondent. It may be assumed that the present conversations between the two Governments are aimed at clarification of the position. The French Ministers left No. 10 at 12.12 p.m. They will leave for Pans at 3 p.m.. , ~ An official statement issued after the meeting of the British and French Ministers said that full accord was established on all points. General Gamelin, who had been recalled for special consultation, also called on the Prime Minister and subsequently interviewed the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip.

“FUHRER COMMANDS I WE FOLLOW!”

(Received September 27, 1.5 a.m.) BERLIN, September 26. The Berlin newspapers in their headlines give prominence to the phrase: “The Huhrer commands! We follow!