PREDICTIONS OF PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1939, Page 6

PREDICTIONS OF PEACE

VERSIONS OF HITLER’S PHRASE CONDITIONS OF ASSISTANCE TO ITALY. WIDESPREAD CONJECTURE. yy Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 31. “I believe there will be a long peace,” is the phrase in Herr Hitler’s speech, which has produced the chief international reaction, although there are varying interpretations, and the phrase is accepted in some quarters with reservations. It is notable that several German newspapers emphasise the

point. The British United Press Berlin correspondent draws attention to the discrepancy in the Propaganda Ministry s semi-official German and English version of Herr Hitler's pledge to Italy. The English version states: “It will only serve the cause of peace if it is clearly understood that a war of rival ideologies against Italy, regardless of its motives, would call Germany to the side of her friends.” The German version states: “War

against Italy, be it waged for whatever motives and on whatever pretext, would call Germany to the side of her friend.” The Propaganda Ministry says the discrepancy is due to hurried translation. Diplomatic circles speculate whether the word “ideologies” was purposely’ inserted to warn Bi itain that if she sides with France against Italy, Germany would hasten to Italy’s aid, but that Germany would have an excuse for non-intervention if France and Italy alone were involved. Official circles in Berlin believe that Herr Hitler accidentally omitted the phrase “war of rival ideologies,” but afterwards inserted it in the official translations. The British United Press Paris correspondent says a third version of Herr Hillers pledge to Italy has been issued in French by the official Germany agency, as a result of which observers consider that Herr Hitler is not pledged to support Signor Mussolini in the event of an Italian-French war, due to an Italian attempt to seize French colonies forcefully. The French version reads: “It is a certainty that any frivolously declared war against Italy, regardless of its motives, would find Germany beside her. This can only be useful to peace.”