HITLER’S SPEECH

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1933, Page 5

HITLER’S SPEECH

EUROPEAN VIEWS

COMMENT IN BRITISH PRESS.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, May 18The "Daily Herald” s ays; Herr Hitler’s speech was a studiously moderate gesture, hot of defiance lbut of conciliation. All sensible •people, though<• loathing brutalities of the Nazi policy at home, will fee! relieved at Herr Hitler’s acceptance of President Roosevelt's proposal. This must, be followed by. similar acceptance on the part of other powersTfie great obstacle ahead is Herr Hitler’s own past. His wild words arid action s have created such suspicion that there will be a genuine fear that his speech is merely a snioke screen and a delusion.. We s n y frankly that Herr Hitler should be taken at his word. To risk a minute b.ampaa ihon is to . risk ’rejecting his offer.'

The "Daily Mail’’' .says : Herr Hitjjor’s' speech proves him a statesman. Nothing could he, more emphatic than his denunciation’ of" war, or his acceptance of Pres : dent . .Roosevelt’s pro--1 poial 'to enable' the Disarmament scheme and to secure the general adoptioih of . a largp scheme of disarmament. Verbaf ' iasstirances will not remove the reluctance of Germany’s neighbours to'disarm, but if deeds follow a real advance should be possible. The League of Nations must show Germany that she is mistakenin thinking herself to be unwanted within it.

Most of the prefs' editorials make the point that, while . Herr Hitler’s speech was conciliatory, it must he tested by the. conduct of the German delegate Geneva-"(jr, in other word? ants will speak louder than words. "The Times” says. Herr Hitle r was hardly telling the whole story • when he said that Germany had fddth . fully fulfilled her obligations under the • Versailles Treaty. On the other • hand, ihis statement that international aTk’eements only have real value it made between nations of equal rights cannot really be challenged. There will never be -a.- tranquilised Europe until .the obligations by the . Afafisnilles Treaty-have been converted .-with a minimum of alterations into nh . agreed peace.’ b

AMERICAN PRESS DOUBTS

•REGARDING NAZI INTENTIONS

' NEW YORK, May 17. Wkije,7 Americans, ■■ including the official %t ’'• Washington ate-' viewing Her* HItVN fpceh fts fur more *oWWtiatery been expect" ed, - tjhe distract aroused by JJazi (Trr'matiy 1 ' has Hardly yet been dispelled •

V'f'He" Hearst" Press, although clis(tinctly *anti-FretfcH'; wHl..«ay to-mor-row-“To fepealc dranklv, if Herr Hitler is the type bf man that Germany wants, that is perhaps Germany’s business; but \v e ' Americans viffiori believe fervently in the gospel of liberty and independence, ao not want to- participate in any new international set-up which will make our national welfare contingent on the thoughts and spoken-” words of the -Nazi leader.” The “New York Times,’’ in a leading article to-morrow, will sav: “As far as words go, Hei'r Hitler •has done much to reassure the opinion of. the other nations/" but they will lae-.ie }to ask whether appropriate deeds aTe to follow. 'At great deal 'more is necessary to convince the world that Germany seek s r.ot only peace within her border s but civilised. humane, methods of Government, within them.’’

The State Department officials today [described ' Hitler’s disarmament ipeech ias encouragingly conciliatory.

INTERPRETATION AT 'GENEVA.

LONDON, May 18.

Th© conciliatory tone of Herr Hitlers’ speech, is recognised, throughout Europe, though the_ French circles at Geneva declare that it is ;.nof definite enough to ©rase the recent declarations of 'Captain., von Papon, and Herr von Neurath. The French add that the real significance of the speech will not be known until it is translated into acts at Geneva.

FRANCE’S VIEW OF SPEECH

LONDON, Ylay 13.

Paris political circles are impressed wiith Herr Hitler’s moderation, but they still perceive that there, is a wide gulf ‘between the French and German positipns. .! ,M. Delndier, Premier of France, expresses sincere satisfaction. The re-organisation, of, the Ffiencn Army, reported *on May 16, concerns mainly the infantry in the frontier districts, where each battalion will in future have 32 machine gums, besides sixteen light automatics.

CONGRATULATIONS for hitler

BERLIN. May 13. .Scores of congratulatory telegrams B re showering on Herr Hitler. The 'Berlin “Tngeblatf’ declares: «f<That Herr Hitler’s appeal is exacted to b" (fruitless because it demonstrates that only self respecting people can contribute to.Wgrds peace.

AUSTRIA AND ITALY

LONDON, ‘May 13. 'Vienna regards Herr Hitler’s speech as conciliatory.

Rome messages say that Italy greets the utterance of the German Chancellor as a moderate statement by a reasonable statesman, valiantly rebutting the British misapprehension. He is believed to have shown the bona fides of the Nazi policies.

FURTHER FRENCH OPINION

(Received this >- ,,v at 10 a.m.) PARIS, May 18

The “Petit Journal” comments that Chancol’-r Hitler tool: Mussolini’s c-»© j and (paraphrased resident Roosevelt. ;qf bi s acts confirm his words, all w;!l b Q delighted. ‘•PeO Tanisien”. says that Gern)3„v has onsiderably improved her tactical position. France must play ' a R mart hand to avo'd being trapped. M. Pertivax says that Hitler has momentarily snapped the Brown Shirts for tlic official uniform.