"BENES AND I"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1938, Page 8

"BENES AND I"

HITLER FURIOUSLY ASSAILS CZECH PRESIDENT Abatement of Demands Refused DIRECT THREAT TO LIBERATE SUDETENS MEMORANDUM LAST AND FINAL WORD By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) BERLIN, September 2G. Concluding the speech reported on Page 7, Herr Hitler said the lie regarding German mobilisation was invented to justify the Czech mobilisation. Germany hoped for a peaceful settlement, but Dr Benes thought he could permit himself everything, since he was covered by France and Britain, and if it came to the last by the Soviet. ‘■Finally at Nuremberg, - ’ said Herr Hitler, “I demanded selfdetermination. Dr Benes’s answer was new deaths and imprisonments. Then Britain came. I told Mr Chamberlain the only solution we would consider. I left him in no doubt that German patience had ended. France and Britain saw that the only solution was to cede the Sudeten areas. When Dr Benes saw that Britain and France would not help unless the territories were ceded, he agreed, but what did he do? He is hanging Germans. Military oppression was aggravated immediately Dr Benes spoke. He did not cede the territories, but expelled the Germans. Here the game ends. When Dr Benes lied this state together, he promised a cantonal system, on the Swiss model, but instead started a regime of terrorism. Germans tried to protest, but were shot. Then a war of extermination began. Six hundred thousand Germans had to leave Czechoslovakia because they would have starved. Dr Benes i esolved to exterminate the German race and succeeded in intimidating them and muzzling them. (Shouts of “Hang him! Hang him!”). It became clear that the raison d’etre of Czechoslovakia was only to attack Germany. Bolshevism used Czechoslovakia as a roadway in ■ Centra! Europe. When such patience is shown as we have shown, if oanr. j'-- be mid we thirst for war. My memorandum, which is my lasi arid final word,' was nothing but a realisation of what Dr Benes promised. its essence is territory which belongs to Germany, which Germany’wonts and which shall become German, not after Dr Benes has succeeded in exterminating half a million Germans, but now, immediately. (The audience roared six times: “We thank the Fuehrer”). Cnly one state shares our grief; only one man understands —Mussoljni. whose friendly attitude in the hour of Germany's need will' never be forgotten. If ever occasions should arise when Italy needs a similar service, we shall come to her assistance.

GRATITUDE TO MR CHAMBERLAIN.

“I am grateful and thankful to Mr Chamberlain for his efforts. I assured him that Germany wants only peace. I repeated that after this problem had been solved, Germany .has no territorial problem in Europe. I told him that after the Czechs had peacefully settled the problem with other minorities, we were ready to guarantee Czechoslovakia, ibut I also told him that my patience had ended. I first demanded a plebiscite in the whole of Czechoslovakia, but yielded. I told Mr Chamberlain that a vote cnly in some parts would be sufficient. I also agreed to a plebiscite under international supervision and to an international commission to determine the frontier. Dr Benes rejects my proposals and says my memorandum has created a new situation. What now situation? That he keeps his promise. He must hand us the territory on October 1. Now it is two men against each other Benes and I. With me is Germany. We don’t want the Czechs. Our demand for the Sudetens is irrevocable. Dr Benes, can choose peace or war. lie will either accept my demands or we go to liberate our Germans. “1, as the first, soldier, let the world know that behind me my people march in step. Let the world know it is a diffeient people from 1918. Lot us unite in swearing this holy cath: ‘Our will shall be stronger than cur need and danger.’ We have decided' and we are ready. Let Dr Benes choose.” The speech was followed by ten minutes’ cheering and shouts of “Lead us to victory!” Herr Hitler concluded at 9.32 p.m., having spoken for 71 minutes. After Herr Hitler’s speech, Dr Goebbels declared: “I solemnly declare that the German nation stands as one man behind you to fulfil 'your orders enthusiastically and obediently. November, 1918, will not recur. Wc shall defend the life and honour of the nation with our last breath. We promise you, Adolf Hitler, Seigheil!" The crowd sang “Deutschland Über Alles” and the Horstwessel song.