PAGE 4-HONGKONG. TELEGRAPH.
Sir Nevile Henderson described in Satur.
day's instalment how he was withdrawn from his post as British Ambassa- dor in Berlin after Hitlor's invasion of Czecho-Slova- kia.
He was in London when the quarrel between Gor- many and Poland over Danzig began to assume grave proportions.
Then Britain, by an 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-. sia-and Hitler began to shout about "oncircle- ment."
Sir Nevile returned to Berlin on April 25, 1939, to notify the German Govern- ment
that
conscription
was being introduced in Britain.
S in 1938, so once again
Ain 1939, the
summer
months were spent in fruitless negotiation.
+
Moscow had now become the centre of the stage, and His Majesty's Government and the French Government sought sincerely but in vain to persuade the Russian Govern- iment definitely to assume the Hame obligations towards Po- land as we ourselves had un dertaken.
As soon
08 one alleged obstacle to Russian co-opera-. tion was overcome, Stalin pro- duced another with unfailing regularity.
Nor did we cense during the same period constantly using our offices at Warsaw, with a good
view to the avoidance of the kind of incident which Hitler was so allful in turning to his own pur- pokes.
My warnings
to the Nazis
·
For any part in Berlin I was preaching patience and giving solemn warnings to all and sun-
dry.
My main and, luuleed, almori sole object was to convince the Germans that any further act of aggression by them would mean war with Beltain.
It was at the
end of May, for iristance, that I had my conversa tion with Goering, which I re- ported at the time and which con- stituted
of the documents included in the Blue Book issued His Majesty's Government on
one
by fis the outbreak of war.
I made it quite clear to the Fleid while nobody de- Marshal that, sired мого
than we did an amaica- ble arrangement between Germany and Poland in respect of Danzig and the Corridor, we were deter- inned to oppose in future force
forco.
by
Though Ribbentrop was at that timo making great play with his own special brand of propagando, to the effect that Briain would nover night over Danzig, the Field Marshal himself did not.
on that to doubt that such occasion, appear was our fixed resolve,
It was, throughout the summer, quito useless to argue about the equal rights of the Polea, to Le- bensrnum and economic existence, and in the end I gave up trying to do so and concentrated on the in- evitable consequences of aggres- sive action,
Hitler knows
how to wait
W09
The invariable retort of every German
that Britain' had given a blouk cheque to the Poles or had placed her sword in their kands.
My conversation
with Goering
Monday, MAY 6, 1940.
Why Ribbentrop CONSTIPATION
WANTED WAR
Sir Nevile Henderson
INSTALMENT 13
Frau von Ribbentrop, shown above wearing her best jewels, is heiress to a champagne fortune. Hitler escorted her in the grand march at an"Axis" party slie tendered Italy's Count Ciano at her 30-room Dahlem home.
That was why, when he reud- out the names of Mercy and Purity, etc., I took the opportunity to observe that I failed to see Pa- tience among them.
Goering, who never missed a point, roared with laughter at the innuendo.
Doring 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 falsa move which could be turned to his own in- mediate advantage.
So long as Russia's final atti- tude remained unpredictable, he himself would not move.
la sny case, his army would not be finally ready for all eventuail- tles 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 of the Tannenberg victory was to be held on August 27, and that it would coincide with the visit of n German
warship to Danzig, it did not need much prescience for me to abandon my rooted aversion to the popular habit of Axing dates for crises.
I wrote 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 net of the drama, and the curtain for it had gone up on that momentous March 31 when Mr. Chamberlain announced in the House of Com- mons our agreement” with Poland. Both parties were now sparring for position.
Red light
led consequently nowhere in par- for Poland
ticular as was, I fear, the fate of all my conversations, however stimulating, with him.
But, whatever may have been In Hitler's mind, war did not ap- pear at that time to be either the desire or un imamodalto, preoccupa tion of Goering
It was on that occasion he showed me with pride the coloured sketches of the tapestries which' be proposed to hang in his now dining-scribed them in my official
at Karinhall,
patch ns drawings, of. "naked
I opportunity of saying that I did, so In no disrespectful or suggestive spirit:
Had I antelpated that my, des- patch would ever be published, I should certainly have written "nudo figures" in place of the cruder oxpression which I actually used. Ba
These drawings were in fact
We sought ot Moscow and Ankara to build up a pecao front while the Ger-
; against aggression at Moscow, in
mans' were
the Baltic States and in the Bal- kans to make gaps in that front.
Both were to win successes and to suffer defents,
But in the meantime there was a lull: which was likely to last for several months, and I reported to that effect at the beginning of May
In the last days of that month I urgently represented to the Polish Ambassador the desirablity
of
resuming conversationa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but his answer, was that he could do nothing till the German Govern- ment
had
given
evidence of its goodwill and readiness to talic. * On June 25 I motored to Hame burg to attend the local Derby ahd
some
very artistic, and I should not have ', to visit some old friends of mine.
referred" to tliom at all if it had At it happened, a Polish horse not been to point the argument.or was, expected by many to be going patience, which had been the gist to win the race, but he finishe
of all my talk, with Gooring that a down the course, to the keen salls- morning.
faction of all 'lóyal" Gërmiħna.
The atmosphere won already strained, and I remember feeling rather sorry for my Polish col- lengue, who was also present,
Yet everybody was friendly and courteous and appeared honestly glad to see one.
Germans
didn't
hate Britain
nelf, 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 July, and warned His Majesty's Government that the clouds were gathering.
By this time, the Russian nego- tiations had ceased to have for me, even the superficial appear- ance of any reality, and I still be- Heve that from the outset Moscow never meant them to terminate in agreement with us.
Riddle of Russian pact
The moment
Hitler Dt which began his own negotiations with Stalin must remain for the time being a matter for conjecture, but it can scarcely have been coinel- 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
2 of the
League of Na-
relieved of his post as:
for Foreign Affairs. A
few weeks later
a new. Soviet Ambassador to Germany was. re- ceived with marks of quite un- usual courtesy.
I decided, at the end of July, to seek for
the opportunity of myself a personal meeting with Hitler. He was OL Bayreuth at the time, at- tending the Wagner festival,
So far
Though absolutely unmusical, I like Wagner. I had twice attended the whole of the Ring in Berlin, and I used this as an excuse to pay a visit to Bayreuth on July 20.
na my real objective was concerned It
complete failure, had cor trouble on the way down, and when I got there I found that Hitler was away in- specting the Siegfried Line, accom- panied by Ribbentrop; an ominous combination.
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 bolleved himself what he said seems to me incredible.
Egging on the Fuehrer
. By 1939 Hitler had becane zo grent in his own esteem that he Could afford to discribo his Foreign Minister as the second Bismarck. He often cald so to others, and no one was surer that It was so than Ribbentrop him-
self.
But the world had yet to be per- aunded that it was so, and for this h war was necessary.
To ensure war any means were legitimate. If he could persuado Hitler, who possibly needed little persuading, to go to extremes by representing England na ofraid 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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He got back on the last after- noon of my visit, but I only saw him at distance in the Opera House.
Even so, if he had 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,
War at
Lucking back on it all, one-con--66-X only be impressed by the tragedy and futility of the present war. There was no-hostility to England among the mass of the people in
war,
Germany,
Goebbels frenzied propaganda may, since
the beginning of the have been
successful in working Germans up to hate. Ger- mon youth is being, and has for some years past, been educated up to hate us.
Nazi extremists, full of the mystical faith which seeks to lin-
leadership on a pose Cr
work of German vassals, will always hate the chief barrier to the fulfillment their overweening ambitions. of
Resentment against the English, who nicknamed him Brickand- drop, y
inspire Ribbentrop's hatred, and the "fury of the wo- man scorned" may fan the pas sions of Hitler himself.
But the German people had no natural hatred of the Brittali, and it is the saddest thing in the world that the two should fight,
to the last, Personally, up to
that I was nover felt anywhere other than welcome.
I attended two large parties at the end of that month; one was given by Funk, who, after having succeeded Schacht as Minister for Economies, had later replaced him
President of the Reichsbank, and the other by Lutze, who was the chief of the S.. or brown- shirts.
Everyone who was anyone in Nazi circles, with the notable ex- ception of the Ribbentrops 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 tolk.
did my utmost in these numer- ous conversations to enlist the support of those most, closely In touch with Hitler, with a view to Inducing him to make come ges- ture which would open the door,
any
There
price!"
were three parties la 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.
from
A second was equally all for war at any price. It was con- fident in the might of Germany's Army and Air Force and in her Invulnerability to attack the west
It was the party in closest touch with Hitler,
and was constantly pressing him to go ahead regard- less of the consequences, und argu- ing that in any case Britain either would not or could not fight.
There was a third appeared really to alleve that Britain's milliary preparations
being deliberately under were taken
ken with a view to a preventive
and war,
which consequently argued that war in 1939 was bet ter for Germany than war in 1940 or later.
which
I was repeatedly told by those in closest touch with him that Hit- Jer himself professed to share this view.
The war atmosphere was spread Ing opace, France was now mo- bilising, and the country was united behind M. Daladier,
Britain was also girding up her loins, and in the middle of July extra fleet exercises had been on- nounced, extra ships were placed in commission and come naval re- servists were called up.
The underlying idea was to cón- vince Hitler of our readiness for
war.
It apparently, falled to convince Ribbentrop, who to the lust con-
would never fight..
If it were only an inch or so, to a #inued to assert that", England response on Mr. Chamberlain's part..
Bul: our negotiation: with/Bus- sta, as lour na they continued, >Were, represented fo me 机场 insuperable: obstacle to any con- cillatory inillativo en filler's Dart.
Alhs, it was all talk: for it was not the Lutzes and the Funks, or even the Brauschitzes and Lam- mers, who decided polley,
"The last thing which Hiller him-
I say "apparently" with Inien- Hon. since I' sms' still unable to credit oven Ribbentrop with being so "obstinately foolish, na seriously to Bellove that England
: -
..
These extracts are taken`` from the book of Sir Nevile Henderson antitled "Failure of a Mflesion,” published by Menara. Hodder & Sloughton, Ltd.
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R. A. CAMIDGE,
Vol. X No. 1
THE
Manager,
January, 1940
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RADIO A Look Through
ZBW, 355 metros (845 k.c.) and 31.49 metres (9,520 kilo-cycles) Mozart Symphony No. 29:
In A Major
Radio Programme Broadcast by ZBW on a Frequency of 845. k.c'è. and on Short Wave from 1-2.15 pan. and 8-11 p.m. on 9.52 m.c's. per second.
12.15 p.m. Short Service of Inter- cession.
12.30. Moxart Symphony No. 20 In A Major.
Sir Thomas Becchum conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. 13.55. A Mozart Song sung by Ivar Andresen (Bass).
O Isis and Osiris (from The Magic | Fiute') .... with Orchestral accom-
paniment.
1.00. Local Time Signal and Wen- ther Report,
1.93. Hilderardo (Vocal) and The Blx Swingers.
1.30. Reuter and Rugby Press, Weather Forecast and Announce ments
1.45. Latest Variety. 2.15. Close down. 6.00. "For the Children," 6.32, Harry Roy and His Orchestra in Dance Music,
The "Telegraph"
50 YEARS AGO
May. 1300. Queen Victoria owns a block of houses In New York.
+
A black snake four feet long was killed in the gutter' outside the Masonic Club. about dusk fast evening,
•
For the first time in the halory of steam shipping in China the Austrian flag
represented on the Yangtze. The British steamer Ajickin Maru, which for
the past three months has been running on the Yangtze, changed her flag test week and holsted the Austrian flag. Sho will alter undergoing an overhauling, and probably some alterations, trade on the river between Hankow and Shanalini.
25 YEARS AGO:
May 6, 1010. Field Minchal Gie John French hos Issued report on the Germans using potonous ganen in which he says: They have been ejected from pipes laid in the trenches and also by shells specially manufactured. German attacking troops had specially designed respirators, and this hil points to a long methodical pro paration on a large scale. The report emphasizes that a week. before Germany used the method, n Berlin communique announced that the British were using asphyxialing gases then there appeared no reason for this astounding falsehood, 7.00. Musical Comedy Selections.
but now it is obvious that that was part 7.30. London Relay The News, of a scheme, and shows the Germans re- 8.00. Local Time Signal, Weathercognised the filegailty of the method and Report and Announcements,
were anxious to forestali neutral and
criticism. possible domentie
Moreover, 8.03. The Regimental Band of II.M. since the method was first urd, the Grenadier Guards with Peter Daw-
enemy adopted it both for offence and (Bass-Baritone).
defence whenever the wind was favour- able. The effect was not merely that af 8.33 Varlely with Gracie Fields, disabling, or even painiessly falol an sug- Billy Mayerl, Sandy Powell & Others, gested by the German press, but the
9.15 London Relay News Sum-
victim suzer acutely and a largo pro- portion die a painful, lingering death. mary.
It appears that those surviving are per- 9.30 London Relay-"Under Nart maneatly injured in the lungs and will Rule."
possibly be invalds for Hue. These effects to the German must be well known 0.45 Excerpts from GÜbert & Sulti-scientists who devised the method, and
also to the military who sanctioned t 10.15 A Dance Programme.
use. "I am at opinion the enemy has definitely decided to use these gases as anormal procedure and that protests will be useless.”*
son
11.0 Close down.
MALAYA
UNDER NAZIS RULE
(Continued from Page 6.)
al
(the noblest part of his equip mont). He has not read the Vedas, the Mahabharata, or the Confucian -Analects. He would scorn to do so if he could. To him they are the scribblings
non-Aryan
sub- men, beneath contempt.
Since the Nazis propounded their revolting doctrine of world do- mination the little spots on the German moral leopard have grown to the size of dinner plates. Woc betide Malaya if
if ever it were in the position of Poland and Czecho- Slovakia under the Nazi heel.
To Most of us this is almost too obvious for
but you mention were to hold of one of those els, cyclostyled on wrap- leaflets,
little
ping paper in pale Ink that has blotted aud
at run, in the handwrit- ing of boys who have failed to
pass their junior middle school, you would receive the impression that British
Imperialism in dreadful thing than which nothing could be
worse.
Im not concerned to de-
fend British imperialism or to prove that it is the most enlighter- ed system of government that the human mind could conceive. You live under
nder it and can judge for yourselves. But
thing I can If
anyone would willingn subs!itute it the imperialisma
for
of Germany the only proper
soy.
Nazi
place for him is
Well
one
my
is the padded cell. I
have
finished with nightmare. The Swastika is 8,000 long miles away over seas guarded by the British Navy or over land defended by the Allled forces and by the good sense and decency, of the Asiatic peoples.
STOCK MARKET.
REPORT
+
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A quiet morning, though there was some "chicken feed" produced in the form of investment business.
Buyer
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Makmal Belleza HK, 'Banks (LAIDE ILIKI Fire Ink.70176, Docks Cum RUN $24 -Lunde $37
Renities 90% Trama $17.00 Electries
04.70
·ILIC. Hanks 31,500 -- Union, Inc. $400
Docks Nis, $6,70 **
Lands $504
Electrics. #diy
"Telephones "New" 30.05/10
|
The Italian Ambassador had a prolonged conference with Sir Edward Grey.
❤
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mir, Asquith Kald that Germany's use of poisonous gases was a breach of tho Hague Convention and had been olently commited with deliberate purpose after careful preparation. He emphasised that time would be better spent in counteract- ing such actions than by making repre» nentalions.
„Reuter's.... correspondent at CopenhaZED reports that the King of Sweden, "at Gothenburg, made a speech in which he said the danger of Sweden being involved in the war was da great an before. He em phasised that it was Bweden's, indie- pensable duty to observe strict neutrality, and he exhorted all to do nothing to aggravate the country's position and said he was conndent in case of necessity the whole nation would be united in defend- In the country and liberty,
It is five years ago to-day since King George, mitcreded to the throne. When King Edward địed, the nation feit that it had to take its son more or less on trust. King Edward was known;, was the most popular prince, and one of the most pontilar men. In the world; but of King Grergo all that his subjects knew was that he was a naval officer, and a mạn of somewhat retiring disposition-who mielit or might not warthly wear the crown that he had inkerlied from the Saxon kings by his father's side and from Canute by his mother's. Everything wIE speculation. The country's relations with foreign Powars were apparenily good, but the Empire itself was not by any means at its most peaceable. There was ciastection in some baris, minor political unrest in others, while at Flame every other man, was at Na najahbour's throat nver Mr. Lloyd George's notorious Budget the worries connected with which had kelped to shorten the devs of King Ed- ward. It was little wonder, then that the warld watched, with lively curiosity the actions of the new King Emperor.
10 YEARS AGO
May 8, 1030. Mahatma Gandhi, "leader of the civil disobedience movement in India has been arrested at Jalalpur unter" Regula Lon Twenty Five of 1927 and will be Im- prisoned during the pleasure. of the Government of India...
At the Roof Garden of the Hongkong Helel, celebrations took place on Wednes- day, the 30th of April. Last, in honour of H.H. the Princess Julians, only child of Her Majesty the Queen of the Nether- Jends and the Prince Consort, who came
of aga on that date. P
5 YEARS AGO.za.
Pendek Mar 0, 1935. With fitting ceremonial and parlantry, the Colony of Hongkong, to-day loyally and enthusiastically""began its volòbration of Silver. Jubilee Week under conditions "giving-promise of a most_colɖurful and Happy observance of the Empire:
So great in the interest centred in the celebrattuna that there has been"TA tremendous thnux-of visitors from Bouth China, estimates of the number, who have come here to see the mightta":várying be- tween 100,000 and 800,000.
The gigantic French liner, Marmandie, Balled from St, Nazaire to-day on her speed triste.
ACCOUNTANTS' DINNER
The Society of Chartered Account- ants in China held their annual din- ner at the Shanghai Club with Me. A. H. George, H. M. Consul-Genéral |'in'Shanghal, 'ng the guest of honour, In the course of his speech, the Chairman, Mr. II. R. Cleland, anve a brief review of the history of the wecountancy” wha” welcomed guestă,
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