TRYING TO DIVERT GUILT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 4

TRYING TO DIVERT GUILT

NAZI STATEMENTS ON ATHENIA INQUIRY AMERI ( A X (O .M MIS S 1 () X S [ British Official Wireless ] RUGBY, Jan. 4. Vigorous attempts are being mad< by the German propaganda machine to confuse opinion by anticipating the findings of the commission now sitting in Washington, inquiring into the Athenia incident. By misleading excerpts from Uniter

States statements, which purport to represent intelligent forecasts of the commission’s report and which are made to appear favourable to wellknown German ideas, these are given publicity in the hope that they will be taken as the actual and final conclusions of the commission. The implications of much of the German propaganda are that the commission’s verdict has already been published. An example of this propaganda is a passage in the Berliner Borsen-Zeitung, cited in the transocean wireless news to-day. “Nothing throws more light on England’s position in the Athenia case than the fact that, faced, with the results of he American investigation, it is unable to find the smallest argument in its own favour.” In similp-r vein is an endeavour to throw doubt on the integrity of Reuter’s Agency. “Significant is the attempt of Reuters to weaken the Washington verdict,” a sentence which again implies that the report has been issued. Oflirial quarters in London content themselves with observing that, impartiality in the investigation in Washington will remain unaffected by German misrepresetation, adding that the public elsewhere than in Germany, where the truth is subject to import restrictions, will be wise to await the actual and official conclusions of the commission.