NEUTRALS BLAMED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 138, 11 May 1940, Page 8

NEUTRALS BLAMED

. "CO-OPERATION WITH ALLIES.” TYPICAL NAZI CASUISTRY. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) BERLIN, May 10. The Official German News Agency states that the Government has sent a memorandum to the Belgian and Dutch Governments informing) them that Germany has proof that a British and French attack against Germany through Belgium and Holland was imminent. The Reich Government had a - eordingly ordered 'German troops to safeguard the Belgian and Dutch neutrality.' Germany is reported to have sent a similar memorandum to Luxembourg. The German memorandum says:— “An attempt by. Britain and France at the invasion of Scandinavia was foiled, whereupon Britain and France again took up the policy of widening the theatre of war in other directions. “While the wild retreat of British troops from Norway was still taking place) the British Prime Minister announced that England, because of changed circumstances, was now able to shift the'main force of the. Navy to the Mediterranean and British and French units were already going to Alexandria. “The Mediterranean is now made the centre of British and French propaganda. This is meant as a veil for the defeat in Scandinavia and loss of prestige; also to create the impression . that the Balkans have been chosen as the next theatre of war against Germane. ‘ ALLIES’ “DECEPTION.” / “The apparent shifting of the British and French war policy to the Mediterranean, however, served quite a different purpose, it was nothing else hut a manoeuvre of deflection on a big scale, in order to deceive Germany about the true direction of the next British and French attack. The real British and French intention is to attack Germany in the west through a long prepared and now .imminent attack against the Ruhr district,'through Holland and Belgium. “Germany recognised and respected Dutch and "Belgian integrity, on condition that these countries were strictly neutral in case of conflict between Germany and the Allies. Belgium and Holland did not fulfil this condition. They favoured completely Germany’s opponents, while trying to keep up ail appearance of neutrality.” Tlpe memorandum says Belgian and Dutch- newspapers surpassed - even the British and French in their anti-Ger-man attitude. Despite German demarches the unneutral attitude of the Belgians and Dutch was repeatedly demonstrated. They were on the Allied side; they greatly supported British' intelligence men in .attempts to cause internal disruption in Germany and to erect a powerless, defenceless federal German State. “UNDER PROTECTION.” “Belgian and Dutch military measures have been a direct contradiction of their repeated assurances not to allow Belgium and Holland to be used as bases for the belligerents’ operations,” continues the memorandum. “Herr Hitler decided to take Belgium and Holland under his protection because he was hot prepared to expose the Ruhr to attacks by the Western Powers and their unneutral allies. It was also necessary to take Luxembourg under his protection because it was ‘within the scope of Allied machinations. Belgium and Holland always promised to change their unneutral attitude, but' did nothing, to this effect. One hundred and twentyseven cases of violation of Holland by Allied ’planes had been communicated ' to the Dutch Government, but the iact that •it took no measures against these flights is proof that they were made with Holland s full knowledge and approval.; “German troops have entered Belgium and Holland not as enemiei but as friends. Germany did not wgnt this development and did nothing tq cTeate it. The responsibility rests entirely with the Allies. Germany promises not to touch Belgian and Dutch overseas possessions. It is still possible lor Belgium and Holland to save their countries by ordering no resistance. “Should German troops be resisted they will break the resistance with all the' power at their disposal. The consequent useless bloodshed will then be / the responsibility of Hie Belgian and Dutch Governments.”