1940-05-03 — Page 4

PAGE 4-HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

Sir Nevile Henderson

INSTALMENT 11

YESTERDAY, Sir Nevile Henderson, "British Ambassador in Berlin until the outbreak of war, told how the Czech German quarrel reached its zenith in September, 1938, and how war was averted at the eleventh hour.

TO-DAY, he deals with the Munich Agreement.... and Hitler's chagrin after that historic treaty.

T

HE meeting of the four statésmen at the new Brown House at Munich began at 1.30 p.m. on September 29. Mussolini had arrived by train from Rome, and Daladier by air from Parle, shortly before the Prime Minister. All three were enthusiastically acelnimed by the German people who filled, the

streets.

At

Their discussions ended thirteen hours later at 2,30 on the Friday morning. no stage of the conversations did they be- come heated.

The presence of Mussolini acted as a brake on Hitler, and the fact that the former had tactfully put forward as his own a combination of Hitler's and the Anglo-Fronch proposals, thereby defeat- ing the intention of Ribbentrop, who was anxious to put forward a scheme of his own, made general agreement easier all round.

It was largely the necessity for trans- Intion into three languages, English, French, and German, which, together with the difficulties of hasty drafting, delayed the conclusion. Mussolini was the only one of the four statesmen who could speak and understand all three languages. The final agree- ment was reached substan- tially on the lines of the Godesberg memorandum, as modified by the final Anglo- French plan.

Germany thus incorporated the Sudeten lands in the Reich with- out bloodshed and without firing a shot. But she had not got all that tutler wanted and which she would have got it the arbitrament had been left to war- namely, the strategient fronller which so many Germans desired.

Goering's

promise

Czecho-Slovakla had lost--and a

which bit more

k territories would probably have been wiser not to have included at Versailles in the Czech State, and which could never, except on the basis of federation, have remained perman- ently therein.

I left Munich before the Prime Minister had his Anal, meeting alone with Hitler and drew up and signed the Anglo-German declara- tion of September 30.

Early that morning the French and Italian Ambassadors, together with the German State Secretary and myself, flew back to Berlin, and the rat meeting of the Inter- national Commission set up under the Munich Agreement was actu- ally held the same afternoon at 5.30.

Its meetings constituted the final of the scene of the second nei drama.

The tasks delegated to the Am- bassadors were ungrateful in prin- ciplo and most distasteful in detail.

I had made up my mind before the first meeting began that the best hope for Czecho-Slovakia lay

in direct negotiation, where pas

ble, with Germany, and that ple- biscites, which could only lead to

trouble, should be avoided at all

cost.

did my best to ensure bolli those objectives. I saw Goering, and secured an assurance from him that Germany would not be anconciliatory, If the Czech Government frankly sought co- Operation with, rather than an- tagonism to, Germany.

I arranged a meeting between Field Marshal and the Czechi the delegato

the an

Commission, Monsieur Mastny, who was also the Czech Minister at Berlin and with whom had maintained throughout the crisis the friend-

llent relations.

HITLER disobeys his "VOICE"

Mr. Neville Chamberlain returning to Eng-.

land from the famous Munich Conference.

Last head of the old Germany, President von Hindenburg (centre) reluctantly culls on Hitler to form a Government.

Goer-

Bttl

ius, trusted by both Army and Nazis, is the man who brought them together. Hiller still wears a top-hat and striped trousers. Boan Hindenburg will be dead, Hitler will be the Fuhrer tu uniform, and Gorring will be at his right hand.

Sudeten, which he had solemnly assured Mr. Chamberlain was his sole object, it was still permissible at least to hope that he might trent a friendly disposed Czech with one generosity

Government..

and

Fitness, Nevertheless, I left for Eng- land about the middle of October thoroughly disheartened, and if I had been a free agent I would never have returned to Berlin.

The Hitlerian methods had been too much in evidence recently for

than me to feel otherwise gusted.

dis-

Nazis go back to barbarism

Moreover, I was a nick man and had been for some months past. Within couple of weeks I was operated upon in a nursing home and for four months altogether I remained completely out of every- thing,

That in itself

minor disuster. I am not presuming to suggest that anything might have been altered by my presence at Berlin.

Was

#

But four months were too long to be absent from Germany in the dynamic state through which she

ill-treatment of the Jews such as even the Middle Apes coul scarcely equa).

They did so at the Instigation of Dr. Goebbels' propaganda press, and with the connivance und actual participation of Himmler's secret police and extreme Nazis.

The exaggerated and -Inhuman revenge which the Germans took was, however, from their own point of view, Bri.net of incredible stupidity, comparable in its effect

His resentment

over “Munich

exging him on to fight England while the latter was still milliarly- unprepared.

Hitler turns

to extremists

They reproached him for having. accepted the Munich settlement, und thus having missed the most favourable opportunity.

An uneasy feeling lest they might baVO

2011- been richt tributed to Hitler's ill-humour.

Nor was Munich in itself an He agreeable experience for him. found

bimself there for once in the company of three men who were his equals, instead of being surrounded by sycophants obed- ent to his slightest gesture.

The experienco confirmed his disilke for settlement by negotin- tion.

Moreover, the evident popularity of Mr. Chamberlain with the German people not only detracted from his own personal prestige, but also gave him food for uneasy reflection.

He could dragoon his people and .they would always follow him; but could he count on their willing devotion in all circumstances?

It was the first unpleasant lit between him and his people, and it was the peace efforts of Mr. Chamberlain which had started it. It is certainly a fact that, after Munich, he showed considerable -will towards those who had argued with him against pushing things

to extremes.

ilis Voice had told him that there would be no general war. or that, even if there were, there could be no more propitious mement for 14 than that October, and for once he had been obliged to disregard that Voice and to listen to counsels of prudence. After Munich, those whom

as the faint-hearts in regarded as Germany, beginning with Goering and passing through many strata of the Party and of the Govern- ment officials, fell from grace.

-

Heil Jekyll and Hyde!

he

On the other hand, this uneasy reflection was the main cause of the rise to favour of the Ribben- trops and Himmlers, and of his subsequent measures for the rein- forcement of the Party vis-a-vis the Army, which had also been Anti-war.

But it was his own faint- heartedness which probably infu- riated him more than anything for the first time he had

to obey his Voice. For ine, Hitler was a sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

he

$1

of

To begin with,

may not have been more than visionary genlus or a practical dreamer, with a subline folth in himself and in his mission to reinstate Germany in her former position among the nations.

Π

"Mein Kampf" shows that he was naturally endowed with highly developed political sense, but it is, unlikely that his original ambitions were as wide as they subsequently became.

with the sinking of the Lusitania Self before ··

and the shooting of Nurse Cavell in the war,

Thereby they turned the whole of the world opinion definitely against themselves.

The second interesting feature of my four months' enforced absence, was what I can only describe as the reactions of Hitler after Munich.

The Munich settlement deprived Hitler of the great satisfaction—to which he was ärdently looking for- ward-of giving his army a little experience, of "appearing himsel in the role of a conquering hero, and of wreaking vengeance on Benes and the Czechs,

In one Ronse he may have been not ungrateful to Mr. Chamber-

country

His_initial_aspiration may well have been.to become Chancellor of Germany, to complete her unity by means of the incorporation of Austria, his own motherland, as a first objective, and to restore to Germany her self-respect and prosperity.

The interesting point to eluel- date would be when he ceased to be Jekyll and became lyde.

It was probably matter of gradual evolution. Dictators, hay- ing achieved absolutlam, lose their scuse of proportion.

Each success leads to ever ex- panding alms, while their insati- able desire for their own per- manence

them

cm in the end to

From iba moment that Donostas-pussing,-and-in--vlow-of-tho-Jain for having-prevented a world put sold drive their, country," "and"

resigned,

the position became

caster, though the Germans, na usual, did little to modify their demands or to honour Goering's promise to be generous.

I left Berlin as soon as was proce tleable after the conclusion of the work of the International Commis- sion.

1 lind, of course, the utmost mis- givings as to Hitler's good faith and the honesty of his ultimate Intentions towards the Czechs.

But a Government had assumed power at Prague, which sincerely sought co-operation with Gor- many, and since Iller had got the

appetites which had been whetted by the inclusion of ten million Austrian and Sudeten Germans in the Nelch.

Furthermore, events occurred during that interval which had a considerable bearing upon nub- sequent developments, One of these was the organised persecu- tion of the Jews which took place

November.

in

In revenge for the murder by a young unbalanced Jew of n Ger- man diplomatist in Paris, squads of German hooligans reverted to the barbarism of the Middle Ages and indulged in an orgy of violent

war to which his army and prople

were opposed.

In another, any gratitude which he may have felt was for out- weighed by resentment at having been compelled to change his mind and at being deprived of his local

war.

The unanimity with which the French Chamber (unlike the House of Commons in this respect) ap- proved of the Munich Agreement certainly helped to confirm him in this opinion.

In yet another sense, too, Hitler felt irritated with himself. A-BCC- tion of his followers were always

to adventure as the sole means of inaintaining their hold.

So it was with Napoleon, and so It secins to me to have been with Hiller. The Chancellorship, the unity and prosperity of Germany were, in the end, not enough.

His fatterers described him as the successor of Frederick the

These extracts are taken from the book by Sir Nevile Henderson entitled "Failure of a Mission," published by Meairi, Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd.

Great and Bismarck, and, as time went on,, he felt himself called upon to emulate their milltary victories as well as their other con- structive achievements.

[Copyright in all countries. Re- production in whole or in part strictly prohibited.]

TO-MORROW

Nazi swoop that stag- gered the world.

Hitler tears up the Munich Agreement, seizes Czechoslovakia — a n d commits a major political blunder.

My mission is "ship- wrecked."

BANKS

THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA.

Incorporated by Royal Charter 1853 Paid-up Capital

..... $3,000,000 Reservo Lability of Proprietors £3,000,000 Reserve Fund

£3,000,000

HEAD_OFFICE:-LONDON. 38 Dishopsgate, X.C.A. Sub-Agencies in London: 117/122, Leadenhall Street, E.0.3. West End Branch:

14/16, Cockspur Street,

Manchester Branch:

WL

B2, Alosley Street, Manchester, 2.

AGENCIES AND BRANCTIES|

Alor Star

Amritsar

Bengkok

Batavia

Itangoon

Hongkong. Salgon

Seremban

Harbin

Ipoh

Semarang

Jollo

Bombay

Karachi

Cricutia

Klang

Agencies:

Kobo

Cuve Street Hunla

Fairile Place

Lumpur

Kuching

Cawnpore

Madras

Manila

Medan

New York

Hatphong

Peiping

Canton

Cebu Colombo Deihl

Hamburg

| Hankow

(Peking)

Pening

Shanghat Singapore Sitiawan Sourabaya Taiping Tientsin Tongkoh

(Bhuket)

Teingto Yokohama

FOREIGN EXCHANGE and Genera) Banking Business transacted,

CURRENT ACCOUNTS opened and FIXED DEPOSITS received for One Year or shorter periods in Local or Other Cur rencies at rates which will be quoted on application.

Friday, MAY 3, 1940.

Cure

That SORE

THROAT

IF your throat is soro and painful

—it you're hoarse or if it hurte. to swallow, be sure to take Pops, for these antiseptic, breatheable tablets give wonderful relief and quickly cure throat troubio.

Dissolved in your mouth, a Peps releases rich, medicinal essences which mix with your breath and are carried deep into your lungs. Thus the sore, irritated membrunes of your throat are soothed and strengthened, all infiammation reduced and infectious germa completely overcomo. Peps aro

1482

pleasant to take and more lasting than gargles.

Take

To preservathaconcentisind ensesterwhich Impi enoten, every tablet in weapped in silver paper. They are pred la vealed flame bolides, along with full directions printed (a leading languagu, at any medicīns doalet,

PEPS

Breatheable Tablets

QUANTITY OR QUALITY..WHICH?

State Express 555 cost a little more, but the value they give- the increased smoking satis- faction they

provide-is worth it.

STATE EXPRESS 555

50 for $1.30

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS also opened in THE BEST CIGARETTE IN THE WORLD

Local Currency and Sterling with interest allowed at rates obtainable on application The Bank's Head Onice in London undertakes Executor Trustee business and claims recovery of British Income Tax overpaid, on terms which may be ascertained-at-any-of-its-Agencies and

R. A. CAMIDGE,

Branches,

Manager.

and that's why I use Silvikrin Lotion every morning. It keeps the scalp healthy, the hair free from dandruff and makes it beautifully glossy. But, best of all, it stops falling fuit and my waves stay in longer,'

Silvikrin Lotion is the only hair dressing that contains Purs Silvikrin, the natural hair food. Made in England SILVIKRIN-LABORATORIES,~ London Parks Brussats - Roterdam Zurich Obtainable from all Chemists and Hairdressers.

Silvikrin

DOES GROW HAIR

COSTS SO LITTLE MONE

Crossword Puzzle

ROBOSS

1-summon in ANY WAY 5-Engijan #ri-crifia

(died 1894) 10-BohemiKI, PIVER

Superficial

15 King of Fr

16-Jght-Fallowfin

browa

10=Belf-exleem

Enginee

(abbr.)

23-Boures of light

By LARS MORRIS

ANSWER TO PREVIOUN PUZZLM

17-Coheeded fach

STIENC

21-Fuel used in Diesel

22-Bouth ratitude

FOOD

VLIH

BIOMATER

TRIALZI

EfSco

27-Violen) pang

20-Promote welfare of 20-Act of simulation

IRON

KALE

回

33-diter of "Childred's

Ksesslopedia

batore glacielekky

15-Blats of rennement

30-Degre given fog

gradusteg

29-Bharoenlag siopes 37-Mixture of hail and

rata

Ja—Strike patity

40-Quperior

41—Ons of disballeni

spirit

42-Put in Record with 43-Not subiees to

deduction

40-Build

43-Mias Dogus

Co-Stelamation of

beallation 47-Biginning of period

-communication by

wira

50-Bounding siap $3-VicleDi Lugo (PL) dz-Make familar by us 44-Obtain

14

27

5031

13t

40

મન

H

5+

THO.405.K

64

69

COUNT THE TELEGRAPHS" EVERYWHERE.

67-00

50-Constellation

80-East wind

87-90 ip France

6-aiņa 10 mud 06-Prices

65-ad of lo 02-Vehicle used to

Arasto 70-Liquid injection 11-Ter

DOWN

1-Valger fulleres (ed),)

Rurais

Expresion of martiment

8-River in limle

EN

N

6-High mountala

a-Wickad dieda

Purchased buck

Datmeal

12-ederal Scandina

vian waplorer 15~B3traigh£-edga la-Pemale boriss 50-fron

24-kiste descendant J-Balutation to virgin #--Doctrine

JF-Kathiez

30-Common Instrgmans

of communication TOOLF

-Wanderer Dallos

34-piritual nourish. "

ment

DORizeń moisture

15-Gopada of con-

Lented cata" 41-Break

4

42-At same time

45mblebt and tha, að

47-Ox[rich-ke bird 60-Twenty 01-1017 ook of

HomeETIS 63-Charitable offeringi 64-Lite roof of 85-meking power of

sa-mird home 81-Semicolon (abbr.) 63-4CELA) oxide found

la nature $5-kin'e alckname

7-Bamerium

18

9

1

13

49

162

157

156

[b]

2

134