HITLER’S SPEECH IN MEMEL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 11

HITLER’S SPEECH IN MEMEL

Pain Caused” To Reich To Be Made Good

CITIZENS THANKED FOR LOYALTY

“Reparations Substantially At An End” By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, March 23. “Now wc have substantially reached the end of reparations, declared Herr Hitler, addressing a crowd from a balcony in the main square in Memel yesterday. “I lead you back to the Homeland, which has not forgotten you. I thank you for your unswerving steadfastness. A Gei many Jias arisen which will not trust her fate to foreigners and will determine for itself, even though this might not please the outside world. “We do not want to harm anyone, but we will not tolerate harm to us. It is our oath that no othei Power will ever break our new community, which arose from pain and need.”

Hitler’s speech reads: “We have no intention of causing pain to the outside world, but we must make good the pain they have caused us. I believe that we are now substantially at tiie end of this making good.” Berlin reports that the official version cl' Herr Hitler’s speech omits the reference to the reaching of the end of reparations. After spending three hours in Meniel, Herr Hitler boarded the destroyer Leopard and reviewed the German fleet. He then returned to the battleship Deutschland, after which the fleet sailed. Herr Hitler is due back at Berlin tomorrow. Punctually at 4 a.m. yesterday German units crossed the Queen Louise Bridge spanning the river frontier between East Prussia an'd Memel. Hundreds of people cheered and every village hoisted swastika flags. The troops entered Memel at 8.5 a.m. The autonomous Government ceased to function at midnight, and Herr Himmler, chief of the secret police, temporarily took over the administration. Twenty-nine persons, including a Jew ami several Lithuanians, were arrested, being suspected of espionage. Herr Himmler instantly began organizing secret police.

MOVE FOR NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT

Grand Council On Italian Lines For Czechs (Received March 24, 8.30 p.m.) PRAGUE, March 24. President Hacha, taking the first step in the formation of a Grand Council on the Italian lines today summoned a meeting of a committee on which social democrats and extreme right wingers are represented. It is not certain whether the new form of government will be acceptable. General von Brauehitseh, Reich Protector of Bohemia, issued an order imposing the German penal code. Tiie first party of refugees to be formed since Ihe annexation left for England today. It comprised GG women and children.