Hiller's Vague Speech

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 5

Hiller's Vague Speech

Britain May Ask for Elucidation THE COLONIES ISSUE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—CopyrightLONDON, Feb. 1. It is understood that Britain may seek elucidation of specific points in Herr Hitler’s speech, in view of the vagueness of many of the passages. The Government considers that nothing in tho speech calls for immediate reply. No diplomatic approaches have been received in London on the colonial question which Herr Hitler raised. The Daily Telegraph finds that so far as concrete proposals for the solution of European difficulties, political and economic, are considered, Herr Hitler’s speech leaves the position as oo fore. A vast audience outside Germany will welcome the assurance that Germany is bent on peace, but nothing in the speech suggests that for Germany u period of collobaration has begun. While much of the speech is regarded as negative, the Telegraph draws attention to positive passages which, put into blunt language, are an assurance that Germany will pick no quarrel in Western Europe, but the price is that the Naz» ideology shall be allowed to pursue its quarrel with Bolshevism. To this M. Delbos makes answer that France is ready for all offers of rapprochement but will not be a party to the exclusion of Russia from the Hitlerian peace offer and stands for the reinforcement of collective security through tho League oi Nations. If peace is now Germany's dearest treasure, she has but to abandoit vague rhetorical generalities for precise suggestions as to how that peace may be given a solid and enduring tion.

The Morning Post, which welcomes certain encouraging features of the speech, also notes that in regard to Germany’s positive attitude Herr Hitler has studiously evaded precision, and adds that though he took up Mr. Eden’s points one by one he said nothing tangible about any of them. The News Chronicle says that what was chiefly disappointing was the absence from the speech of any definite reply to the offers of co-operation made specifically by M. Blum and Mr. Eden. If the era of surprises is over the era of co-operation is evidently not yet to begin.

The Daily Herald says that if Herr Hitler does not want the world to believe that he talks in generalities to hide concrete plans of future aggression, he must give his pacific sentiments more practical form than he did on Saturday. The Daily Mail says that the speech demands the most careful study of British statesmen, and says that in particular they will do well to consider tbe demand for the return of the former German colonics.

INTENTIONS OBSCURE NO CONCRETE PROPOSALS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. I. Herr Hitler’s statement on Saturday that the time of so-called surprises has been ended, and that as an equal State Gormany is conscious of its European task to co-operate loyally in removing problems which affect her and other nations, is generally welcomed in the British Press. The Times remarks that this note recurs throughout the speech, and is repeated with emphasis at its conclusion. It adds that, with so much that is expressly conciliatory and inherently reasonable in Herr Hitler’s latest declarations, they suffer from disabilities of discussion at long range. It may be that Herr Hitler does not rule out tho general procedure which fie had xn mind in the hour of the crisis last March. But there are certain ambiguities and contradictions in the speech which do not leave his intention plain —obscurities of a kind which negotiation at short range would rapidly clear up. All these difficulties require the kind of examination that only discussion across the table can furnish. After Mr. Eden’s frank speech and Herr Hit-i ler’s reply a truce to public exchanges for a time would be no bad thing. “What is now wanted to maintain and expand the calming and conciliatory effect of these rcassertions is a starting point for the closer business oi negotiation,” says tho Times. “The German reply to the last Locarno Not*? from London might well provide it. The threads of political negotiations are not in British hands alone, but two contributions to security and appeasement are at our disposal. One is the utmost dispatch in the repair of our defences and the other is diligent application of economic policy to present international needs, excluding no country, least of all Germany, unless self-excluded.”