WORTHLESS WORDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 139, 13 May 1940, Page 9

WORTHLESS WORDS

GERMANY’S PROMISES. NETHERLANDS MISLED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 10. It is probably true that to no other countries have assurances of Nazi pacific intentions been more often or more solemnly given than to Holland and Belgium. The very vulnerability of their position has caused the neutrality of these two countries to be taken as axiomatic, and their own conduct has been beyond reproach. So much is this true that Holland, for instance, has consistently refused either to accept a guarantee of support from other countries, or to enter into nonaggression pacts. This point is made especially clear in the reply given by the Dutch Foreign Minister on February 13, 1937, to Hitler’s reference to his proposal for a non-aggression pact between France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in his Reichstag speech on January 13, 1937. Joukeer Dr. Graeff said : “The Netherlands cannot conclude a treaty with another State regarding the inviolability of the Netherlands territory, as this inviolability is for the Netherlands an axiom which cannot suitably be the subject of an agreement concluded by the Netherlands.” That this attitude is one which Nazi Germany pretended to adopt is shown not only by recent avowa's that the suggestions that she was preparing to invade Holland were stories.put about by “British propaganda,” but also by the long list of specific assurances publicly given by German Government leaders. Thus, in the Reichstag, on January 13, 1937, Hitler, affirmed that Germany guaranteed Holland and Belgium as “neutral regions in perpetuity.”

In the Reichstag, again, on April 28, 1939, he repeated the pledge in a different form, and on August 26, 1939, it was announced that the German Envoy had informed the Queen of the Netherlands that Germany would in no circumstances cease to respect the inviolability and integrity of the Netherlands provided the Netherlands preserved strict neutrality. These assurances were repeated by Dr. Goebbels on September 21, 1,939, by Hitler in the Reichstag on October 6. 1939, arid in an Official German News Agency statement on November 13. 1939. In all the above cases, with one exception, a promise to preserve the integrity of Belgium was also included. AS IN 1914 .... In this respect it is interesting to compare the announcement made by the Germa” Government in 1914, when Belgium was invaded, with the German wireless announcement made at 2.30 this afternoon. In 1914, the •ultimatum stated: “The German Government would, however, feel the deepest regret if Belgium regarded . as an act of hostility against herself the fact that the measures of Germany’s opponents forces Germany, for her own protection, to enter Belgian territory.” To-day’s announcement says; “The Germans want to leave you in peace. ■ They only want to pass through Belgium.” Readiness is shown everywhere to comply with the Government’s' urgent request to remain at work over the Whitsuntide holiday. There has been no slackening in having air raid precautions in a state of the highest efficiency and preparedness, but the Ministry reminds the public of the detailed precautions regarding air raid warnings issued at the beginning of the war. The need to carry gas masks, of which there has been an overhaul throughout the country, is recalled, and strict observance of the black-out regulations, including when travelling by rail, is enjoined. Stock Exchange dealers have adopted the traditional defensive measure of marking down prices sharply after tin latest war development, but there is no special selling pressure. A drop ol three points is not unusual among gilt edged securities, which earlier reached spectacular heights. The commodity markets expect a more pronounced trend upward. The trend in the price : ot tin has already advanced over £8 a ton. NO BITTER OUTLOOK. BRITISH PEOPLE’S TEMPER. , (British Official Wireless.) i RUGBY, May 9. ! Striking passages are contained in! the report of the Committee on Church and Nation to be presented to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which meets in Edinburghj toward the end of the month. I “We rejoice that up to now, in spite I of every provocation, the British people have, on the whole, maintained a calm and admirable temper,” it says. j “There has been a remarkable absence! of nationalistic bombast and of hard! and hitter outlook on enemies. | “It is becoming increasingly difficult to draw any real distinction between the rulers of Germany and the German people. While there are, without doubt, many in Germany who have no respect for the present regime, it is true to say that-, as a whole, the people seem solidly behind Hitler in this war. At present the German people must he regarded as a people bemused, even possessed, by the spirit of evil. Part of the task will he the encouragement of those liberal and Christian elements which still persist in Germany.”-