HITLER AND ROOSEVELT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21154, 29 September 1938, Page 9

HITLER AND ROOSEVELT

REACTION TO PEACE EFFORTS HERR HITLER’S REPLY TO UNITED STATES MORE PROFESSIONS OF PEACE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright BERLIN. September 27. Herr Hitler in his reply to President Roosevelt's message expressed his appreciation of such generous intentions. "I share in every respect your opinion regarding the incalculable consequences of a European war," said the Fuhrer. "However, for this very , reason I must decline responsibility on behalf of the German nation and its leadership should further developments. despite all my efforts, lead to hostilities.” After a long historical survey in which Herr Hitler said: The peace treaties imposed on Czecho-Slovakla had far-reaching obligations which were not kept from the very beginning." Herr Hitler declared that so tar 214,000 Sudeten Germans had been compelled to leave their ancestral - homes and take refuge in the Reich because they saw there the only possibility of escaping from Czech violence and sanguinary terrorism. There were numberless dead, 1000 injured and M 10,000 detained or imprisoned, and "• deserted villages were accusing wit- " nessas of the outbreak of hostility already long apparent on the part of the Prague Government. "Since the Czech Government had " previously agreed to the cession of Sudetenland,” he said, "the terms of " the German memorandum pursue no other end than that to bring about a ’ rapid, certain and just fulfilment of the Czech promise.'' AID IN SEEKING PEACE CONTRAST IN ATTITUDE OF LEADERS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, September 27. In an atmosphere of gloomy nervous tension, President Roosevelt and s; the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull vainly waited in the blue-paneiled study at White House until late to-night for Herr Hitler's answer to the President’s plea. Dr Benes, Mr Chamberlain and M. Daladier during the day pledged their aid in seeking peace, but Herr Hitler ' was silent. The statesmen both think that they received their reply in the Fuhrer’s unconclllatory address to which they listened by radio. Mr Hull lias Issued instructions that copies of the appeal should be sent to the Polish and Hungarian Govern- * “ ments. The Democrats and Republicans alike praise it, but the majority issue the warning that the United States must maintain neutrality. Some ex- “ press the opinion that the plea has **’ been made too late ana ttie body of

opinion among the Administration officials considers that it is probably the last step the United States will take to try to avert war. Some, however, express an opinion that the way to another gesture is still open. It is said that the President has not another step in mind, but it is thought that if the deadlock was continued on Friday night, some new form of negotiation should not be ruled out of the question. MESSAGES TO PRESIDENT RESPONSE TO PEACE APPEAL United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 20, 1 a.m.) WASHINGTON, September 28 President Roosevelt is gratified at having received spontaneous messages from the Presidents of Uruguay, Cuba, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Argentine approving his earlier peace plea. AMERICAN FEELINGS AROUSED GROWING HOSTILITY TO GERMANY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 29, 1 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 28 Theatre traffic was jammed at times in the Square in Broadway to-night by hundreds bearing banners inscribed "Stop All Trade With Germany; Save Czecho-Slovakla; Quarantine Hitler; Democracies Stick Together. APPEAL TO KEEP OPEN NEGOTIATIONS REPLY TO HERR HITLER’S STATEMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 27. President Roosevelt to-night cabled Herr Hitler appealing to Germany on broad humanitarian grounds to keep the negotiations open. "Nothing stands in the way of widening the negotiations into a conference of ail nationals directly interested in the controversy," added the President. "Such a meeting could be held immediately in some neutral spot in Europe and would offer opportunity for this and correlated questions to be solved in the spirit of justice and fair dealing. The United States has no political Involvement in Europe and will assume no obligations in conducting the present negotiations. Yet, in our own right we recognise our responsibilities as part of the world of neighbours.” Reply to Herr Hitler President Roosevelt If. acknowledging Herr Hitler’s reply to his telegram, despatched vesterday, said; "I was confident that you would coincide In the opinion I expressed regarding the unforseeable consequences and the Incalculable disaster which would rerult to the entire world from the outbreak of a European War. The resort to force In the Great War failed to bring tran-

quilllty. Victory and defeat are alike sterile That is the lesson the world should have learned and for that reason above all others I addressed my appeal to your Excellency and to the President of Czecho-Slovakia, and the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and France. The points I sought to emphasise were: (It That all matters of difference between Hie German Government and the Czecho-Slovak Government could and should be settled by pacific methods. (2) That the threatened alternative of the use of force, on a scale likely to result in a general war, is as unnecessary as it is unjustifiable. The President added: "My conviction on these two points is deepened because responsible statesmen have officially stated that agreement in principle has already been reached between the Government of the German Reich and the Government of Czecho-Slovakia, although the precise time, method and detail of carrying out the agreement remain at issue.’’ PRESIDENT’S LAST APPEAL WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN CONFERENCE ISOLATION POLICY CONTINUES United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 11.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 28. After President Roosevelt’s message to Herr Hitler it was stressed that this is the last appeal the President intends making. Informed officials also declared that the United States will not participate in any conferences such as President Roosevelt suggested. President Roosevelt himself, by inference, disposed of M. Daladier’s suggestion that he would act as mediator. His message was cabled at 10 p.m., after a day and an evening in deliberation. It is presumed the text was approved at an earlier Cabinet meeting. It was only sent to Herr Hitler indicating that the President places the responsibility for world peace squarely on the Fuhrer. Lack of Strength While restraint is shown in the message it is disappointing to those anxious to see America take a stronger stand. The appeal is valuable, in that Herr Hitler could use President Roosevelt’s intervention as a door to a dignified retreat. It is felt in the present situation that Germany defies the rule that dictators cannot afford to climb down, because a peaceful settlement of the Sudeten question on the lines of the original Anglo-French proposal, would probably increase Herr Hitler’s popularity with compatriots, more than war news. That President Roosevelt's first appeal dominates front pages in Berlin morning newspapers is regarded as significant. Although publication was delayed the text of the message appears fully. If Herr Hitler does want peace with dignity, Washington is giving Mm a chance of saving his face.

COMPLETE SURPRISE GERMANS’ CHANGE OF DATE ZERO HOUR APPROACHES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 27. The news from Germany that 2 p.m. on Thursday is the zero hour came as a complete surprise to the press and public throughout Great Britain and France. It was thought that the crisis would come on Saturday, but now, according to "The Times" correspondent in Berlin, the time limit tor acceptance has been fixed at 2 p.m. on Thursday, in order that the Czccii army, in the event of acceptance of the German memorandum, could quit the Sudeten areas by October 1. The world has overlooked the difference between acceptance or non-acceptance, and in the event of acceptance, the accomplishment of the exodus. Thus the world faces the culmination of the crisis in a few hours Instead of on Saturday. A message from Paris states: "The report that Herr Hitler has advanced the time limit is received here with something like stupefaction, even by well-informed quarters." DEMOCRATS PROTEST GERMAN RULE NOT WELCOME United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. The Sudeten German Democrats sent a message to British members of Parliament reaffirming their adherence to the Czech-Slovak State and relying on the solidarity of the great Democracies. The message declares that Herr Hitler’s time limit will deprive more than one million German Czech Democrats in the Sudeten territories of their homes and expose them to the danger of massacre. PROMISES OF HELP RUSSIA AND FRANCE OFFER 'PLANES TO CZECHS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 27. The Geneva correspondent of “The Daily Mall" stated that Britain has been Informed that, in the event of unprovoked aggression of Czecho-Slo-vakla, Russia would immediately make air force units available at Prague as L the most effective aid until the territorial situation la clarified. France has notified Prague that it will dispatch a strong air force in the event of hostilities.

IS GERMANY CHANGING GROUND? DENIAL OF PLANS TO MOBILISE CONFLICTING NEWS FROM BERLIN United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 29, 2.0 a.m.) BERLIN, September 28. Since the order to British journalists to evacuate Berlin, the only report of news from the capital comes by Reuters, saying: “The German news agency in a statement indicates that the news published in London last night, that Germany intended to mobilise at 2.0 if Prague did not accept the memorandum, is declared by well-informed people to be false.” (Received September 29, 2.24 a.m.) BERLIN, September 28. A new denial that Germany plans to mobilise at 2.0 was issued at 1.45. FORCES ON FRONTIER GERMANY’S GIGANTIC ARMY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 27. It is believed, according to official information, that Germany now has 30 divisions on the Czech frontier and the Czech army totals 20 divisions. "BLACKMAIL AND BLUFF” SOVIET VIEW OF GERMANY United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 28.The Riga correspondent of "The Times" says: "The Soviet Press described Herr Hitler’s speech as political blackmail and bluff. The newspapers declare that Germany is not so prepared as is claimed. CHANCES OF EXTENSION OF TIME REPORTS CURRENT IN FRANCE United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 28 A report is current in Paris that negotiations now centre on a plan to appoint an Internationa! commission to define the Sudeten frontier immediately, enabling Herr Hitler to fulfil his pledge to take possession of the territory on October 1. Respite Not Favoured The Berlin correspondent of ‘“The Manchester Guardian" says: "The promulgation of the respite beyond October 1 has been rejected.