NAZI LEADERS’ FORTUNES

Evening Star, Issue 23383, 28 September 1939, Page 11

NAZI LEADERS’ FORTUNES

GOEBBELS'S CHALLENGE ACCEPTED AMERICAN JOURNALIST GIVES FULL DETAILS (By Wireless.) DAVENURY, September 28. To the challenge issued by Dr Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda, Mr Knickerbocker, the American journalist who first revealed the fortunes alleged to have been placed overseas by Nazi leaders, has provided a full reply in an article in the Paris ‘ Soir.’ In the ease of each leader he names two or three Germans who acted as agents, and he names also the banks or trading firms with which the money was placed. Most of the funds were sent to South America, Japan, Holland, or Switzerland. Huge life insurance policies have also been taken out by the leaders. It is stated that the German challenge was issued on the assumption that Mr Knickerbocker was on his way to America, hut he was actually in France. RIBBENTROP IN MOSCOW , TALKS START TO-DAY MOSCOW, September 27. (Received September 28, at 11 a.m.) Herr von Ribbentrop arrived, accompanied by a party of 37, including Herr Foenster. The talks are expected to open to-morrow. ITALIAN AMBASSADOR PRESENT BUILDINGS DECORATED MOSCOW, September 27. (Received September 28, at 2 p.m.) M. Phtemkin, a Soviet guard of honour, and a military band welcomed Herr von Ribbentrop. The Italian Ambassador was also present. The buildings were decorated with Red flags and swastikas. WOOING GREECE ADMITTED BY GERMANY LONDON, September 27. (Received September 28, at 11 a.m.) Reuter’s correspondent reports tremendous diplomatic activity in Berlin, where the Germans admitted that they were attempting to woo' Greece. ESTONIA’S POSITION THE SOVIET DEMANDS COPENHAGEN, September 27. (Received September 28, at 11.5 a.m.) The ‘ Politiken’s ’ Stockholm correspondent reports that an Estonian delegation, headed by Dr Seller, is flying to Moscow to-day. The Soviet is reported to have demanded a new trade agreement with Estonia, also the use of a harbour on the Baltic as a naval base.

to yield £942,310,000, is contained in the passage of his speech in which the Chancellor explained that the economic problem of the war was to secure a reduction on the private demands of industry corresponding to the enormous expansion of the Government’s demands. If the Government did not secure such a reduction there would be competition between the Government and the civilian demands upon available resources, and therefore his first duty was to use the taxation as an instrument for curtailing civilian expenditure and directing it into proper channels.

The Chancellor sketched in rough order the priority of the starting with those in connection with' the direct prosecution of the war. Next came the need for an increase in the home production of food, and the other demand for which provision must be made was maintenance of the export trade. The same point was made by the President of the Board of Trade in an answer before Sir John Simon rose to make his 75-minute statement. Mr Oliver Stanley said the Government would use every effort to ensure that the country’s exporting capacity was used to the best advantage. NO UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE The scale of the war effort was brought home to the HouSe by the Chancellor’s remark that B.A.F. aircraft to-day cost from three to seven times more than in 1918, and that, broadly, it was true to say. that a division in the field costs nearly twice as much as it did in the later years of the last war. Before he sat down. Sir John Simon gave an assurance that all unnecessary expenditure in British Government departments would be stringently curtailed, and appealed at the same time for the avoidance of waste in any form by the public. Sir John concluded by giving » comparison of the financial position and prospects of Britain and Germany. He said this Emergency Budget would indicate the gravity of the financial and industrial problems involved in waging war. “ But let us take a few moments’ comfort by way of comparison,” he said. “ However serious our problem may be, the financial problem confronting Germany is infinitely greater. The pound sterling remains, when all is said and done, the accepted medium of international trade.”-