“TWILIGHT REGIME”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20030, 31 August 1939, Page 6

“TWILIGHT REGIME”

GERMAN BORDERS RULE BY ARMY CHIEFS BRITISH NOTE RECEIVED NAZI CENSURE OF POLES WARSAW ACCUSATIONS (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 31, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 30. A message from 1 Berlin states that the 'British Ambassador, Sir Nevile Henderson, delivered the British reply to the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, shortly after midnight. The Daily Mail says that Herr Hitler's note to Britain reiterated the earnest desire for permanent friendship with Britain as the surest bulwark of peace and emphasised the urgency of the Polish question. It did not specify claims, but promised to frame an agenda provided the Polish Government; dispatched plenipotentiaries to Berlin and asked for their arrival to-day. The Daily Mail states that Britain replied that it might be possible to arrange for the dispatch of Polish envoys but it had transmitted the note to Poland. The British Cabinet unanimously agreed that the Poles should 'be free to decide for themselves ito accept the German proposal. The Daily Mail states that the British note to Berlin made this clear. The contents were communicated to the Dominions and the United States after the dispatch of the note to Berlin. Hitler Assembles Cabinet A further report from Berlin states that Herr Hitler assembled the Cabinet at the Chancellery to-night and members 1 of the Reichstag were ordered to be ready to assemble at a moment’s notice. Herr Hitler issued a decree forming a German Ministerial Council of Defence, of which Marshal Goering is the head. It is designed to assure unified 'leadership in the administration and economy of the Reich for the “duration of the present foreign political tension.” / The council is empowered to issue decrees with the power of law. General von Brauchitseh issued a proclamation empowering army commanders to take over civil .authority and rule by decree in the frontier districts. The German spokesman explained that it was a “twilight regime” similar to the Sudetenland proceedings last year, midway to normal martial law.

A semi-official statement issued in Berlin says that the Polish action in calling up further reservists has finally precipitated a measure of danger. It is added that Warsaw must recognise it is a consequence of the blank cheque from England and will hardly contribute to direct negotiations.

Reich “Aggression”

A Warsaw message states that the Polish communique calling up more men to the colours declares that the Reich started an aggressive policy against Poland. “The open and continuous claims by Germany upon Polish territory leave no doubt that Poland is endangered,” states the communique. “Poland has-accepted all efforts for conciliatory action made either by high personages or Governments friendly to Poland, but they have brought no response from the Reich.” The Polish Foreign Office spokesman, commenting on Herr Hitler’s note to Britain, said ii afforded no settlement of the situation. The Warsaw correspondent of The Times says that lhe Poles allege that the Danzig police are expelling Poles from their homes and have arrested some. Consequently, young Poles are leaving the Free City for Poland. The Bratislava correspondent of The Times says that the 'Slovaks are very bitter against Hungary from where thousands of Slovaks are illegally been returned to demand the return of the districts ceded to Hungary in the autumn. Shots are often exchanged. The authorities however, are making an effort to avoid .any worsening of the SlovakHungprian relations.