RENEWED APPEAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1938, Page 7

RENEWED APPEAL

MR ROOSEVELT CABLES TO HERR HITLER INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROPOSED. FUEHRER GIVEN CHANCE TO SAVE HIS FACE. WASHINGTON, September 27. President Roosevelt tonight cabled to Herr Hitler appealing to Germany on broad humanitarian grounds to keep the negotiations open. “Nothing stands in the way of widening the negotiations into a conference of all nationals directly interested in the controversy,” he said. “Such a meeting could be held immediately in some neutral spot in Europe, and would offer an opportunity for this and correlated questions to be solved in a spirit of justice and fair dealing. “The United States has no political involvement in Europe, and will assume no obligations in conducting the present negotiations. Yet in our own right we recognise our responsibilities as part of the world of neighbours.” President Roosevelt, in acknowledging Herr Hitler’s reply to his telegram of September 26, said: “I was confident you would coincide in the opinion I expressed regarding the unforeseeable consequences and incalculable disaster which would result to the entire world from the outbreak of a European war. Resort to force in the Great War failed to bring tranquility. Victory and defeat are alike sterile.

USE OF FORCE CONDEMNED. “That is the lesson the world should have learnt, and for that reason above all others I addressed my anpeal to your Excellency and to the President of Czechoslovakia and the Prime Ministers of Britain and France. The points I sought to emphasise were, first, that all matters of difference between the German Government and Czechoslovakia could, and should, be settled by pacific methods, and secondly, that the threatened alternative of the use of force on a scale likely to result in a general war is as unnecessary as it is unjustifiable. “My conviction on these two points is deepened because resoonsible statesmen have officially stated that an agreement in principle has already been reached between the Government of the German Reich and the Government of Czechoslovakia, although the precise time and the method and detail of carrying out the agreement remain at issue.”

After putting forward the plan to hold an international conference, President Roosevelt concludes: —

“In my considered opinion and in the light of the experience of this country, continued negotiations remain the only way by which the immediate problem can be disposed of upon any lasting basis. Should you agree to a solution in this peaceful manner I am convinced hundreds of millions throughout the world would recognise your action as an outstanding and historic service to all humanity. “Allow me to state my unqualified conviction that history and the souls of every man, woman, and child whose lives will be lost in the threatened war will hold all of us accountable should we omit any appeal for its prevention.”

LAST APPEAL INTENDED. It was stressed that this is the lasi appeal the President intends making. Informed officials also declared that the United States will not participate in any conference such as President Roosevelt suggested. President Roosevelt himself, by inference, disposed of M. Daladier’s suggestion that he should act as mediator. His message was cabled at 10 p.m.. after a day and evening of deliberation. It is presumed that the text was approved at an earlier Cabinet meeting. It was only sent to Herr Hitler, indicating that the President places the responsibility for world peace squarely on the Fuehrer. While the restraint shown in the message is disappointing to those anxious to see America take a stronger stand, the appeal is valuable in that Herr Hitler could use President Roosevelt’s intervention as the door to a dignified retreat. It is felt in the present situation that Germany defies the rule that dictators cannot afford to climb down, because a peaceful settlement of the Sudeten question on the line of the original British and French proposal would probably increase Herr Hitler’s popularity with his compatriots more than war. The news that President Roosevelt’s first appeal dominates the front pages of the Berlin morning newspapers is regarded as significant. Although publication was delayed, the text of the message appears fully. If Herr Hitler does want peace with dignity, Washington is giving him the chance of saving his face. PRESIDENT RETICENT. President Roosevelt and his Cabinet were in conference for two hours at Washington considering Herr Hitler’s

reply to the President and Mr Chamberlain’s speech, after which the President, addressing an exceptionally large gathering of journalists, said that he could only repeat what he had already said before, “I hate war.” Pressed to expand the statement he would only add that he was against evil and for peace, but after that he countered every other question concerning the crisis and cautioned journalists against speculating in any way as to what was in his mind. He declined to comment on a Paris report that he intended to dispatch a new Note to France or whether he would offer his services as a mediator or further communicate with President Benes and Herr Hitler. He added that the replies to his first message spoke for themselves. The State Department attaches, however, ' commented privately in regard to Mr Chamberlain’s statement that it had clarified the situation substantially and indicated clearly that Herr Hitler had increased his demands between the two conferences of Berchtesgaden and Godesberg. Unofficial comment on Herr Hitler’s reply to President Roosevelt shows disappointment but no surprise at the Fuehrer’s failure to accept negotiation as a method of settlement of the Sudeten problem. s Senator Boraji, in a statement, said that he disapproved of Hitler’s methods, but his claims were fair. The Senator advocated the return of all ■hat is German and Hungarian in Czechoslovakia and Rumania to Germany and Hungary, and that peace should be made at any price.

UNHAPPY WAITING. Press comment reflects a note of unhappy waiting and not much hope of a peaceful solution. The “New York Sun” stresses the view that Herr Hitler’s reply serves notice on the world that he intends .to stand firmly on his policy toward Czechoslovakia, even though it should mean war. It concludes: “Unless somebody gives way, war seems inevitable.” ' The “New York World-Telegram” says: “The tragedy of the American position is that as a peacemaker she labours under a terrific handicap of which Herr Hitler is well aware, that once the war begins we have laws to stop us from helping Czechoslovakia, Britain and France. He knows that under the Neutrality Act we could not legally send five cents’ worth of buckshot either to England or France, even if it would turn the scales of war in their favour, that under the Johnson Act we could no legally lend them 10 cents if 10 cents would save them from bankruptcy and defeat.” The Neutrality Act is said to be the President’s main worry. If it is invoked there is no certainty that American interests and nationals abroad will be safeguarded. If it is not invoked any American ship carrying war supples will be subject to the risk of being sunk. While Mr Roosevelt has disclaimed sympathies for the disputants as such, (he Administration has worked closely with France and Britain in problems arising out of the Sino-Japanese War. to which the Neutrality Act has not been applied. Military experts say that Japan possibly will not join Germany and Italy if the United States remains neutral.