PAGE 4.-HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
Sir Navile Henderson described in Satur- day's instalment how he was withdrawn from his post as British AmbassA- dor in Berlin after 'Hitler's invasion of Czecho-Slova- {ia.'.
He was in London when the quarrel between Ger- many
and Poland over Danzig began to assume grave proportions.
Then Britain, by au- nouncing her pact of mu- tual assistance with Po- land, plainly told the Nazis that further aggression in Europe would be met by force. Negotiations were begun for a pact with Rus- sin-and Hitler began to shout about ,"encircle. ment.'
Sir Nevile returned to Berlin on April 25, 1939, to notify the German Govern- ment that conscription was being introduced in Britain.
As in 1938, so once again
in
1939,, the
summer
months were spent in fruitless negotiation.
Moscow hnd now become the centre of the stuge, and His Majesty's Government and the French Government sought sincerely but in vain to persuade the Russian Govern- ' inent definitely to sume the same obligations towards Po- land as we ourselves had un- dertaken.
As
one alleged obstacle to Russian co-opera- tion was overcome, Stalin pro- duced another with unfailing regularity.
10011
$24
Nor did we ceuse during the same period constantly using our good offices at Warsaw, with a view to the avoklanec of the kind of ineldent which Hitler was no skilfad in taming to his own pur-
poses.
My warnings
to the Nazis
For my part in Berlin I was giving preaching patience and solemn warnings to ull and sun- stry.
My main and, indeed, almost sole object was to convince the Germans that any further act of aggression by them would mean war with Britain.
It
Was
Why Ribbentrop
WANTED WAR
Sir Nevile Henderson
INSTALMENT 13
Frau von Ribbentrop, shown above wearing her best jewels, is heiress to a champague fortune. Hitler escorted her in the grand march at an"Axis" party she tendered Italy's Count Ciano at her 30-room Dahlem home.
That was why, when he read out
the numes of Mercy and Purity, etc., I took the opportunity to observe that i fulled to see Pa tlence among them.
Goering, who never missed a point, roared with laughter at the
inniterlo. at the end of May, for instance, that had my conversa- tion with Coering, which I re- ported at the time and which con- stituted
of the documents опе included in the Blue Book issuesi by His Majesty's Government on the outbreak of war,
I made It "quite clear to the Fickh Marshal that, while nobody de- sired more than we did an amica- ble arrangement between Germany and Poinnd in respect Danzly and the Corridor, we were deter- mined to oppose in future force by force.
Though Ribbentrop was at that time inaking great play with his awn special brand of propaganda, to the effect that Brilain would naver fight over Danzig, the Field Marshal himself did not, on that occasion, appear to doubt that such was our fixed resolve.
It was, throughout the summer, quite useless to argue about the equal rights of the Poles to Lo bensraum and economie existence, and in the end I gave up trying to do co and concentrated on the in- evitable consequences of aggren- sive action.
Hitler knows how to wait
was
had
The invariable relort of every German
that Britain given a blank cheque to the Poles or had placed her sword londs.
During the next four months the chief Impression which I had of Hitler was that of a master chess player studying the board and waiting for his opponents to make
some false move which
could be turned to hals-own-im-- mediate advantage.
So long as Russia's final atti- tude remained unpredictable, he himself would not move.
of
Avas
The atmosphere
already strained, and I remember feeling rather sorry for my Polish col- league, who was also present.
Yet everybody was friendly and courieaus and appeared honestly glad to see one.
Germans didn't
hate Britain
Looking back on it all, one can only be impressed-by-the-tragedy and futillty of the present war, There was no hostility to England
self wanted was to start serious discussions with England.
I went to London for a few days in connection with private business at the beginning of
of July, and warned Ilis Majesty's Government that the clouds were gathering.
By this time, the Russian nego- tlutions had censed to have tor ne, even the superficial appear- ance of any reality, and I still be- lieve that from the outset Moscow never meant them to terminate in agreement with us.
Riddle of Russian pact
Hitler
The moment at which began his own negotiations with Stalin must remain for the time being a matter for conjecture, but it enn scarcely have been coinci- dence that in Hitler's speech of April
28 his usual hostile refer- ences
to the U.S.S.R. were con- spicuous by their absence.
On May 3, Litvinov, the Russian protagonist of the League of NA- tions, was relleved of his post as Commissur for Foreign Affairs. A few weeks later n'new Soviet Ambassador to Germany was re- colved with marks of quite un- usual courtesy.
151 deelded,
nt the end of July, to
seck for myself the opportunity of a personal meeting with Hitler. He was at Dayreuth at the time, at- tending the Wagner festival.
Though absolutely unmusical. I Nike Wagner. I had twice atiended the whole of the Ring in Berlin, and I used this as an excuse to pay a visit to Bayreuth on July 20.
So far as my real objective wes cdncerned
ned it wa 11 complete failure. I had cur trouble on the way down, and when I got there I found that Hitler was away in- speeling the Siegfried Line, accom- panied by Ribbentrop; an ominous combination.
He got back on the last after- noon of my visit, but I only saw him at a distance in the Opera House.
Even so, if he had wanted to speak to me.
Hitler could have
done so, for he must have been informed that I was there.
But contact with the British Ambassador was not part of the game for him.
CG
War at
atmont the mass of the people in any
Germany.
Goebbels frenzied propaganda may
ay, since
the beginning of the wor, have been successful in working Germans up to hate. Ger- man youth is being, and has for some years past, been educated 'up to hate us. the
In any case, his army would not be finally ready for all eventuali- ties until the end of August. That, in spite of all the secrecy of its preparations, was fairly evident.
When it was announced that the twenty-fifth anniversary Tannenberg victory was to be held there on August 27, and that it would coincide with the visit of a German warship to Danzig. It did not need much preselence for me to abandon my rooted aversion to the popular habit of Axing dateş for crises.
I wrole to Lord Halifax early In July, and foretold that the last week of August was likely to be zero hour.
We had reached the last act of the drame, and the curtain for it had gone up on that momentous Murch 31 when Mr. Chamberlain announced in the House of Com- Inons our agreement with Poland. Both parties were now sparring for position.
in their Red light
My conversation with Goering
led consequently nowhere in par for
tlcular-as was, I fear, the fate of all my conversations, however stimulating.
with him. But, whatever may have been in Iller's mind, war did not ap-
Poland
We sought
at Moscow and Ankära. to build up a pecate front against aggresalon, while the Ger-
pour at that time to be either themand were working at Mascow. In
desire or an immedaite preoccupa tion of Goering
on
It was that occasion he showed me with pride the coloured sketches of the tapestries which ho proposed to hang in his new dining-room at Karlabuhi.
I described them in my official despatch as drawings of "naked Indies," but I am glad to have toli opportunity of saying that, I did so In no disrespectful or suggestive spirit.
Had I anticipated that my des- patch would ever be published, I should certainly hayo, written In plice of the "nudo figures" cruder expression which I actually инест
These drawings were in fact very artistic, and I should not have referred to them at all.it it had not been to point the argument pr pallence, which had been. Uit gist of all my talk with Goering that morning.
the Battle States and in the Bal- kang to make, gaps in that front.
Both were to win successes and to suffer defents.
of The
full Nazi extremists. mysticnl faith which seeks to im- pose German leadership on a world of German vassals, will always hate the chief barrier to the fulfilment. of their overweening ambitions.
Resentment against the English. who nicknamed him Brickand- Ribbentrop's drop inny inspire hatred, and the "fury of the wo- man scorned" may fan the pas-
himself. Uller sions of
But the German people had no natural hatred of the British, and It the saddest thing in the world that the two should fight.
Personally, up to the last, I that I was never felt anywhere other than welcome.
I attended two large parties at the end of that month; one was given by Funic, who, after having succeeded Schacht as Minister for Economies, had later replaced him
the Reichsbank, as President of and the other by Lutze, who wus the chief of the S.A. or brown- shirts.
anyone in
Everyone who was Nazl circles, with the notable ex- ception of the Ribbentropa and Himmlers, were present at these parties.
For me, they were not so much social entertainments as opportu- nities to exchange views with all who were ready to listen and to tulk.
But in the meantime there was a lull, which was likely to last for
I did my utmost in these numer- several months, and I reported to that effect at the beginning of ous conversations to enlist the May.
support of those, most closely in touch with Hitter, with a view to inducing him to make some gen- ture, which would open the door, If it were only an inch, or so, to n response Ori Mr. Clamberlain's part.
In the last days of that month urgently represented to the Polli Ambat ador the desirability of resuming conversations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but
his answer was that he could do
nothing till the German Govern- ment had given some evidence of its goodwill and readiness to talk. On June 25 1 motored to Ham- burg to attend the local Derby and to visit some old friends of mine.
At it happened, a Polish horse was expected by many to be going
to win the race, but he finlihed
·
But, our negoliation with, Btu- slo, as long as they continued....... were représentéed to me s TR Insuperable, obstacle to any.com cillatory inlitative
Ker' parti
on
Alas, it was all talk; for it was not the Lulzes and the Funks, or. even the Brauschitzes and Lam-
down the course, to the keen autis-mers, who decided polley. faction of all loyal. Germans.
The lost thing which Hitler him-
price!”
in
There were three parties Germany at this time. One, for removed from Hitler's entourage and representing the, mass of the people, was all for peace and still hopeful that Hitler's wizardry would enable him to achieve his aims without war.
SALE
second was equally all for at any price. It was con fident in the might of Germany's Army and Air Force and in her Invulnerability to attack from Die west
It was the party in closest touch with Ifitler, and was constantly pressing him to go ahead regard- less of the consequences, and argu- ing that in any case Britain either would not or could not Aght.
There was a third party, which appeared really to believe that Britain's milltary
preparations were being deliberately
under- aken with a view to a preventive war, and which consequently argued that war in 1939 was bel- ter for Germany than war In 1940 or later.
I was repeatedly told by those in closest touch with him that Hit- ler himself professed to share this view.
was
The war atmosphere was sprend- ing apace. France was now mo-
country bilising, and the united behind M. Daladier.
Britain was also girding up her loins, and in the middle of July extra fleet exercices had been an- nounced, extra ships were placed in commission and some naval re- servists were cailed up.
The underlying iden was to con- vince Hiller of our readiness for
war.
It apparently falled to convince Ribbentrop, who to the last con- tinued to assert
England would never, fight.
that
I say "apparently" with inten- Lion, since I am still unable to credit even
Ribbentrop with being so obatinately, foolish as seriously to believe that England-
These extracts 'are taken from the book of Sir, Nevile, Henderson entitled "Failure of a Mission," published by Metri. Hodder & Stoughton, Lid,"
would fall to honour her obliga- tions
There is no shadow of
doubt
that he was all the time saying so, to Hitler and to everyone. But that he belleved himself what he sold seems to me incredible.
Egging on the Fuehrer
By 1030 Hitler had beccone so great in his own esteem that he to discribe his could afford Foreign Minister as the second Bismarck. He often sald so others, and no one was surer that it was so than Ribbentrop him- selt.
to
But the world hind yet to be per- suaded that it was co, and for this awar' was necessary.
To ensure war any means were legitimate. If he could persuade Hitler, who possibly needed little persunding, to go to extremes by representing England as afraid of war, all the better.
[Copyright in all countries. Re- production in whole or in part strictly prohibited.]
TO-MORROW:
Hitler's jubilation over the Russo-German Pact- and my blunt retort. My messages to the Cabinet. Chamberlain's personal letter to Hitler. Why the war was postponed for a week.
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Vol. X No. 1
THE
January, 1940
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Monday, MAY 6, 1940.
CONSTIPATION
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PHRUPST MILK OF MAGNESIA, TABLETS -- Just the thing when children's stomachs are sperka (Children like their peppermint flavor.
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RADIO A Look Through
ZBW, 355 metres (845 k.c.) and 31.49 metres (9,520 kilo-cycles) Mozart Symphony No. 29
In A Major
Radio Programme Broadcast by ZBW onu Frequency of 145 kcc'í. and on Sffort Wave from 1-2.15 p.m. and 8-11 p.m. on 0.52 m.c's. per second.
12.15 p.m. Short Service of Inter- cession.
The "Telegraph”
50 YEARS AGO
Деду 0. 1000.
in New York.
Queen Victoria owns a block of houses
•
A black snake four feet long was killed in the cutter outside the Masonic Club, about duak jast evening.
*
For the first time In, the history of steam shipping in China the Austrian fing represented the Yangtze. The British aleamer Anchin Moru, which for
12.30. Mozart - Symphony No. 29 In A Major,
Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the past three months has been running the London Philharmonic Orchestra. on the Yangtaze, changed her flag last 12.55. A Mozart Song sung by Ivar ❘ week and hatcted the Austrian fing. She Andresen (Bass).
will after undergoing an overhauling, and
O Isis and Osiris (from "The Magic probably some alterations, trade on the Flute).....
with Orchestral accom-river between Hankow and Shanghai. paniment.
1.80, Local Time Signal and Wea- ther Report.
1.03. Hildegarde (Vocal), and The Six Swingers.
1.30. Neuter and Rugby Press, Weather Forecast and Announce ments. 1.46.
TH
2.15.
Latest Variety,
Close down.
›0.00. "For the Children.”
25 YEARS AGO
May 6, 1913. Field Marshal Bir John French has issued a report on the Germans using poisonous anaca in which he anys: They have been ejected from pipes laid in the frencies and ning by shella specially manufactured. German nithcking troopa had specially designed respirators, and this all points to a long methodical pre- paration on a large scale. The report emphasizes that a weak before Germany used the method. a Derile communique using 0.32, Harry Roy and His Orchestra announced that the Britials were In Dance Music,
Asplayxiating gases then thero appeared no reason for this astounding falsehood, 7.90.
but now it is obvious that that wan pari of a scheme, and shows the Germans re tognised the legality of the method and were anxious to forestal neutral and Moreover, possible domestic ericism.
the vinee the method was rai used, enemy adapted it both far ottenge and defence whenever the wind was favour. nule. The effect was not merely litat of disabling, or even palniessly fatal an rug, Fested by the German press, but the victims suffer acutely and a largo pro- portien die a painful, lingering death. It appears that those surviving are per: manently injured in the lungs and wit possibly be invalids for life. These effects must be well known to the German cienists who devised the method, and also to the military who sanctioned sta use. "I am af opinion the enemy has dennitely decided, to use these gases
normal procedure and that protests will be useless."
Musical Comedy Selections. 7.30, London Relay The News. 8.00. Local Time Signal, Weather Report and Announcements.
8.03. The Regimental Band of ILM. Grenadier Guards with Peter Daw- son (Bass-Baritono).
8.33 Variety with Gracie Fields, Billy Minyeri, Sandy Powell & Others,
9.15 London Relay-Nows. Sum-.
9.30 London Relay "Under Nazi Rufc."
9.45 Excerpts from Gilbert & Sulli-
van.
10.16 A Dance Programunc. 11,0 Close down.
MALAYA UNDER
NAZIS' RULE
(Continued from Page 6.)
(the noblest part of his equip. ment). He has not read the Vedas, the Mahabharata, or the Confucian Analects. He would scorn to do so - if he could. – To film they are the
scribblings of
sub- тел. beneath
Since the Nazis revolting doctrine of world do- mination the little spots on the German moral leopard have grown to the size of dinner plates. Woe Side Malaya if ever it were in belide the position of Poland and Czecho- Slovakia--under the Na
Nazi heel.
contemp their
To most of us this is almost too you
Obvious for mention but if were to get hold of one of those little leaflets, cyclostyled on wrap- ping paper in pale ink that
bus blotted and
and run, in the handwrit- ing of boys who have failed to pass their junior middle school,
you would receive the Impression that British imperialism is a dreadful thing than which nothing could be worse. #m not concerned to de- fcad Britis
imperiallem or prove that it is the most enlighten- ed system
of government that the human mind could conceive. You Ilve under it and can judge for yourselves. But one thing say, If anyone would willingly "of substitute for the imperfallsen Nazi
Germany the only proper place for him is the padded cell.
Well I have: Anished: with my nightmare. The Swastika is. 8,000 long miles away over seas guarded by the British Navy or over land defended by the Allied forces and by the good sense and decency of the Asiatic peoples.
сап
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|
The Italian Ambassador had a prolonged conference with Sle Edward Grey.
❤
•
Speaking In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith aid that Germany's use of poisonous Maser was a breach of the Hague Convention and had been clearly committed with deliberate purpose after careful preparation, Ila emphasized that time would be better spent in counteract- ing much actions than by making repre- sentations.
Reuters correspondent at Copenhagen reports that the King of Sweden, at Gothenburg, made, n, speech in which hẹ maid the danger of Sweden being involved In the war was an great as before. He em.
India- phasised that it was Sweden's pensable duty to observe strict neutrality. and he exhorted all to do nothing to nggravate the country's postiion and said ho was confident in case of necesalty the whole nation would be united in defend- Ing the country and iberly.
E
It is five years ato to-day since King George Rucceeded to the throne.. When King Edward died, the nation felt that It had to take his son more or less on trust. King Edward was known; was tho most popular prince, and one of the most popular men. in the world; but of King Gearre all that his subjects know was that he was a naval officer, and a man of somewhat retiring disposition-who might or might not worthily wear the cruwn that he had inherited from the Saxon kings by tile father'a sido and from Canute by his mother's. Everything was *peculation. The country's relations with forelen Powers were apparently good, but the Empire itself was not by any means at its most penegable, There was disaffection in some darts, minor pollilent unrest in others, while at Home everý other man was at his nelehchour's throat nver Mr. Lloyd George's notorious Budget, the worries connected with. which hod helped to shorten the davi of King Ed- ward. It was Uttle wonder, then that the world watched with lively curiosity, the actions of the new King Emperor.
10 YEARS AGO
May 8, 1034. Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the civil disobedience movement in India_has been Arrested at Jalalpur under "Regulation Twenty Five of 1977 and will be im- prisoned during the pleasure of the Government of Indtas
•
...
At the Roof Garden of the Hongkond |Hotel celebraBons took place on Wednes- day, the 30th of Aprši. Kant, In. honour of If the Princess Julian only child of Her Majerty the Queen of the; Nether- lands and the Prince Consort, who came of`age on that date;
5: YEARS AGO
May 6, 1938. With Riting ceremonia)Land pageantry, the Colony of Hongkong to-day, loyally and enthusiastically began its celebration of Silver Jublice Week under conditions giving promise of a most colourful and happy, observance of the Empire
So-great- ls, the Interest, centred: in this celebrations.' that #liere" has been tremendous influx of visitors; from: Sbukli China, estimates of the number who hava come here to see the sights varying: be- tween 200,000
and 200,000 per The gigantle French diner Normandie, talled from St. Nazaire to-day on her speed trials.
ACCOUNTANTS' DINNER
The Society of Chartered Account- ants in China hold their annual din- ner at the, Shanghai -Club with Mr: AII, George, H. M. Consul General In Shanghal, as the guest of tiónður; In the course of file: specchi, the Chairman, Mr. H. R. Cleland, Rave a brief review of the history of the secountancy and welcomed puestari