MESSAGE FOR GERMAN PEOPLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 32, 7 February 1941, Page 5

MESSAGE FOR GERMAN PEOPLE

MR. WENDELL WILLKIE OPPOSED TO AGGRESSION AND WILL HELP BRITAIN DEMANDS RIGHT TO LIVE IN FREEDOM iß> Telegraph—l’rees Association—Copyright] LONDON, Feb. 5. Before leaving England on the first stage of his return journey to the United States, Mr. Wendell Willkie issued a statement for transmission to Germany; “I am of purely German descent, my family name being Willicke. My grandparents left Germany 90 years ago because they protested against autocracy and demanded the right to live as free men. I, too, claim that right. I am proud of my German blood, but I hate aggression and tyranny. “Tell the German people that my convictions are fully shared by an overwhelming majority of Americans of German descent. They, too, believe in freedom and human rights. We GermanAmericahs reject and hate the aggression and lust for power of the present German Government.”

"Anything I can do in America Lo help Britain in her light for freedom I certainly shall do, he said in a message to the British people before leaving. Mr. Willkie told the Associated press correspondent who accompanied him on his tour, that he was positive that no Government effort had been made to show him only approved places. He said that when he saw women demonstrating against the system of food rationing he knew who these people were, and did not believe they represented Britain. The correspondent states that Mr. Willkie will tell the United States that Britain will win with American aid. It is believed that he is of the opinion that Britain is a good financial risk with certain restrictions.

Mr. Willkie was yesterday received at Buckingham Palace by the King, who gave him a half-hour audience. Only a short time before going to the Palace Mr. Willkie had returned from Eire. He said that the journey was well worth-while and the Eire Prime Minister, Mr. E. de Valera, and he had had a frank discussion. "I got the information I wanted to get,” said Mr. Willkie.

“One thing very definitely I can say,” he said, “and that is that anyone who is under the impression that the people of Britain are not united is under a delusion. I have met hundreds of people of all kinds and opinions, and without question the British are a great people. “The British people are also most fortunate in their leadership. I doubt whether in history any man more ideally suited for the task has been called upon to carry through than the Prime ' Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill.”

Mr Willkie left a west England airport for Lisbon (Portugal) on route for the United States to-day.