REICHSTAG FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1933, Page 6

REICHSTAG FIRE

COMMISSION OF *\ NQUI.R Y. CAUSES STIR IN BRITAIN. (United Press Association —By Electric Tel«erapfc—Copyright.) (Received tins day at 1-35 p.m.l LONDON, September 14. In a little road behind the law emi'Gs, the international legal eoinmission of inquiry considered Inc bm'nrng of the Reich slug. : It hopes to publish its findings before the actual trial begins at Leipzig on September 21. The “Evening Standard” asserts that the German Government iuqu red from the Foreign Office if tile Ecuhstag Ik’o inquiry was undertaken with oflici'-l British prompting and sanction. The .reply made it, plain that the Government had not the slightest connection l-htre.'wi.h.

Jl j s understood Prince ]J Mnarck inquired on behalf of the German Ambuss do". The Government replied it had neither sanctioned the proceedings, nor associated itseli with them. The law society similarly d ssociates Ysidf I'rorn the tribunal. The original request to Mt in parliamentary offices was refused, as they were meeting privately, us any gathering is entitled to assemble in Britain, in accordance with the right of free speech. The assembly . proceedings are somewhat embarrassing* because a nnifiblr of leading Socialists, including Ch'ipps, ex-member of the Commons, and Ellen Wilkinson are ""prominently associated with it. while the inquiry is genera 11 v considered to.be under strong Cormm.ni ist inspi rati on.

The “Evening Standard” declares it was a mock trial, indistinguishable trolli a theatrical perfW.»vi*»'«h Tbe term commission is misleading. As a judical body it is a farce, deliberately defeating itself of a knowledge of what is the German 'Government’s cose. -‘They are .international busy -bodies, not animated by sympathy for the Jews, but abusing British -hospitalLy solely for propaganda purposes.”