NO SURRENDER BY BRITAIN

Southland Times, Issue 24184, 22 July 1940, Page 6

NO SURRENDER BY BRITAIN

Hitler's Ultimatum Rejected RADIO APPEALS BY GERMANS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received July 21, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. A British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast in German rejected Herr Hitler’s peace ultimatum. “We throw back your appeal in your teeth, Herr Hitler,” it said. “Our reason, our national strength, honour and justice and our sense of responsibility to the world demand that we fight on with all our might for the freedom you wish to destroy.”

The German radio all day appealed in English to the British people to listen to reason and halt the war before Germany’s Air Force destroys them. Herr Hitler’s appeal was repeated continuously. The commentary reviled the Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill) and warmongers. The whole theme of the radio offensive was fashioned as an attempt to -drive a wedge between the British people and the Government. The French newspaper Figaro, commenting on Herr Hitler’s speech, says that the organization of greater Germany can only be carried out with the consent of other continents. There remains only Britain, whose possessions girdle the earth, with a network so closely woven that it cannot be touched without causing an infinite number of conflicts. It would be impossible to contemplate reform of colonial I geography without the consent of London. This can only be gained by total victory or immediate recognition of a de facto situation. PRAISE FOR FUHRER The German radio announcer said that never was there a man so farsighted and forbearing as the Fuhrer, who had again stretched out the hand for peace. Nazi authoritative sources refuse to believe that the British newspaper comment on Herr Hitler’s speech represents the true voice of the people. The Swiss newspaper Basler Nachrichten says that had Herr Hitler visualized any possibility of getting the British Government, to participate in the discussions he would have exercised more reserve in the epithets he applied to Mr Churchill. Herr Hitler’s appeal to reason is not meant for Mr Churchill, but for the defeatist element which Berlin believes to be strong in Britain. The Times correspondent on the German frontier says that neutrals in Berlin report big preparations for Herr Hitler’s triumphal return from London. Newspapers give prominence to the arrangements, including a procession through the Uhter den Linden, where decorations are being erected in all windows along the procession route. Nearly all Berlin’s hotels are booked up. The ceremony was previously fixed for July 27, but was “postponed to August 1 because bad weather delayed the invasion.”