Page
THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 1, 1939.
A
Straight Talk Between A Briton And A A German
The Men in the Street are the men that matter. And here you have the "inside information” on the Anglo-German position, written by a special contributor.
In Berlin I have just engaged in a frank, man-to-man talk with an official of some rank and authority in the Hitler regime.
Our conversation covered those very subjects which I believe the man-in-the-street in our country would earnestly like to discuss with the man-in-the-street in Nazi Germany.
It was a purely unofficial talk, for that reason it was possible to achieve a frankness, a direct appeal to humanity, which political con- ferences can rarely attain.
I came away convinced that, if war is to be avoided, we must ham- mer through to the people of Ger- many---misinformed, plied with pro- paganda about "encirclement" the truth about our attitude to their nation.
|
BROKE HIS WORD "But you don't thin': that the Fuehrer has misled England?" he persisted.
I told him that British men-and women-very definitely were of the opinion that Herr Hitler deliberate- ly broke his word over Czechoslo- vakia. I tried to impress upon him that the seizure of Czechoslovakia had altered entirely the feeling in my country towards Germany.
I insisted that in Britain we be- lieved firmly that Germany had reached the limit of the coups against smaller nations which we out un- could allow her to carry opposed.
"As a nation Britain has always rallied-will always rally-for a principle.
LABOUR LEADER
FREED
Uriah Butler, the lame Trinidad negro leader, who was sentenced to two years' hard labour in De- cember, 1937, for sedition, has been released from prison says a Reuter Trinidad message.
Butler was tried on charges of sedition arising out of speeches made before the riots of June, 1987.
Medals For Condor Legion
Hamburg, To-day. THE German "volun- teers" returning
ARMS' MENACE from TO LIVING STANDARDS
LONDON, TO-DAY.
an-
Spain goose- stepped past Field-Mar- shal Goering who later addressed the men. Field-Marshal Goering nounced that Germans who IN THE FIRST ANNUAL RE: fought in Spain would participate PORT FOR WHICH HE HAS in a victory parade before Hit- BEEN RESPONSIBLE SINCE HE ler on Tuesday. SUCCEEDED MR. HAROLD BUT- He also announced that Hitler LER AS DIRECTOR OF THE IN- had founded a special medal FICE, MR. J. G. WINANT REFERS diately: bronze for all who parti- TERNATIONAL LABOUR
the war, silver for TO THE EFFECT OF THE ARM- cipated in
who fought the ING OF NATIONS UPON STAN-those
enemy, DARDS OF LIVING.
gold for special bravery, gold He points out that diversion of a with brilliants for exceptional substantial part of the total income deeds of courage. of any nation from useful produc- tion and services to armaments, involves reduced standards of liv- ing. No
"And now everyone in our nation is convinced that a very important principle is involved-the imposing I had arrived in Berlin on a pure-of the will of the stronger upon the ly private visit. But I was soon the subject of an inquiry of a semi- official nature.
Germany is keenly anxious to know what the men and women and the leaders of Britain are thinking at this moment.
Pershaps the questions of my German visitor will be all the more illuminating if I record them pre- cisely as he put them to me.
When he first asked me for my opinions I said to him, "Are you asking me for the point of view of the British man-in-the-street?"
on.
He replied that he was. "What is Britain's mission in Eastern Europe?" he went "What is the real purpose of your negotiations with Russia?"
THE LITTLE FELLOW *
"Let me try to explain it to you by an everyday illustration." answered.
I
weak."
My questioner then turned to the problems of trade, particularly in Eastern Europe.
"Germany must be assured trading with these countries,"
insisted.
of
he
"Can't you believe that we in England honestly desire a
.pro- sperous Germany?" I asked. one in my country will try to pre- vent Germany expanding her trade by legitimate, peaceful But am I not right in saying that
well need political as economic domination?"
His reply was: "If I said yes?" -"Then,”-
," I said, "that will mean
you
methods.
as
war."
He then returned to the argument that there was a conspiracy to en- circle Germany, isolate her so that she could be broken by starvation.
"We must be given back colonies," he declared. "We laid down our arms in 1918 on that un-
SHE WAS BEATEN
"We in Britain don't like the bul-derstanding." lying which has been going on in Europe. We have always taken the side of the little fellow in a fight. And we feel that the little fellow has been having a bad time in Europe recently.
"When there is street fight in our .country the onlookers gather round and combine to restore peace and see that the weaker man doesn't suffer a beating.
"That is why we want Russia in to help keep the peace."
He switched to Danzig. What did the British people think about Germany's claims there?"
our
"Germany laid down her arms in she 1918," I countered, "because was well and truly beaten. And she for surrendered unconditionally the same reason."
Finally I told my friend things:
•
these
Britain is tired of Power-politics dangerously tired.
We will not in future see any smaller nation's integrity assailed by force.
We believe it is now Germany's
I said, "Danzig is an arguable turn to make a contribution towards case. But we believe
that argu-more peaceful conditions-by pro- ments can be settled justly and ducing, for example, a schedule for
discussion. peaceably by discussion."
Then, still speaking as a man in the street, I added bluntly. "But if Germany tried a tour de force in Danzig then we should be prepared to fight.".
DANZIG ASSURANCE?
"But supposing Germany gave an assurance not to fortify Danzig and guaranteed Poland's access to the sea?" was his next query,
to meet
Our country is ready Germany at any time on an equal footing at the conference table.
GET M.M.
OF- which would be awarded imme-
The costs are added to each loaf of bread, to
of land every acre cultivated and to the length of the working day.
39 HIGH AWARDS
The last-named medal was awarded to 39 officers and men, including General Sperle, former commander of the German Con- dor Legion.
Rearmament could not continue Field-Marshal Goering further at the present rate of acceleration declared that the Condor Legion without eventually absorbing so would remain ever alive, for Hit- much of the national income of ler had ordered a squadron of many countries as might cause ac- planes, an anti-aircraft battery - tual starvation in the lower income and a signal detachment to bear
British Wireless.
Reuter. this name in future. groups,
FOR LINOLEUM
AND
MANSION POLISH
The brilliance and beauty which "Mansion's" imparts to. floors has made this fine wax polish t
of housewives. Try Mansion" on your floors and see what a pleasing polish it gives and how it freshens and clears the surface.
lish the choice of millions
Mansion Polish
ROYAL SCOTS FOR FLOORS, FURNITURE & LINOLEUM
London, To-day, For gallantry when serving with Again his question seemed best the First Battalion, Royal Scots answered by the blunt truth. din Palestine, four soldiers were de-
"The British people · no longer wd have much faith in assurance guarantees,” I told him. “We are nervous of them.
·corated with the Military Medal by their Colonel-in-Chief, the Princess Royal, at Aldershot yesterday after- noon. British Wireless.
APB2
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.