GERMAN AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1939, Page 5

GERMAN AIMS

AS SEEN IN UNITED STATES NOT TRADE BUT AN EMPIRE. VARIED COMMENTS ON HITLER’S SPEECH. NEW YORK, April 29. A symposium of newspaper reaction to Herr Hitler’s speech shows almost as many different views as there are leader writers, demonstrating graphically the unsettled state of the American mind regarding the* European situation. Some leader writers drew hope from Herr Hitler s assertion that he abhorred bloodshed, but most took the pessimistic attitude that the speech made it clear that Herr Hitler had resolved to build up an empire, which course, they held, would lead inevitably to a general war. Some writers asserted that the Fuehrer’s answer to President Roosevelt was inadequate and even ridiculous, vzhile others felt he had in effect slapped the President’s face and blamed Mr Roosevelt for making possible such a rebuke.

The “New York Times,” in a leader, makes it clear that, however short or long is the present breathing space, Germany under National Socialism is bent upon creating a new empire. “It is not trade but an empire that is Herr Hitler’s goal. How far and how fast he will go toward acquiring it will depend solely upon horn much opposition is offered him.”

BAD MANNERS & BAD HISTORY. The ,“New York Herald-Tribune” says: “To. wade through that turgid mass of bad manners, bad history, bad argument, megalomaniac distortions, debater's tricks and plain misuses of language ,s to experience an intense irritation. Herr Hitler might, without committing himself, have parried the indictment and perhaps even helped somewhat to clear the sulphurous air. Instead he came near to pleading guilty to it.” The “New York Daily News” says: “It was a debater’s field day, for Herr Hitler, for ail his fantastic ideas, is a shrewd debater. We think the German people are more unitedly behind the Fuehrer as a result of his speech, so we move that this public debate now take an adjournment, and a long one.”

The “Boston Herald’ says: “Most Americans would applaud President Roosevelt if he would retire from the role of assauger and let our neutrality policy and huge appropriation for stronger land and sea forces speak for themselves. He has juggled with sticks of dynamite long enough.” The “Detroit Free Press” says: “An expert umpire would be obliged to award the verbal bout' to Herr Hitler on points. Much of what the Fuehrer said was hollow and specious, but President. Roosevelt’s amateurishness was exposed by the fact that he made such openings needlessly and recklessly, when there was neither the occasion nor the need.” Points made by other newspapers were (1), that the speech showed that Herr Hitler had not swelwed from the policy of force and that Danzig would be the next victim, 12), that America should follow France’s example of oeing strong enough to argue with Herr Hitler in terms of guns, planes and ships, and (3), that, boiled down, Herr Hitler said he would take what he could in any way he could get it. “Herr Hitler left the door open about an inch” so far as the peace of Europe was concerned, President Roosevelt declared in a reply to a direct question from Princess Martha of Norway (who is at present visiting Washington), according to the correspondents of the “New York Times” and “New York Daily News,” assigned to Hyde Park, the President's country house. Thq United Press correspondent, however, comments: “I was as near to the President as anybody, but I could not place such an interpretation on the interchange of remarks.’ President Roosevelt’s secretary re-

fused either to confirm or deny the report, asserting that the conversation with the Princess was purely personal. Otherwise, there was no hint of President Roosevelt’s reaction. OFFICIAL OPINION. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” reported that official circles regarded the speech as leaving the door, slightly' ajar for a discussion or specific questions, such as trade and possibly armament limitation, if an opportunity offered, but felt no doubt that Herr Hitler had closed the door to a general conference : for the adjustment of Europe’s difficulties. Diplomats placed importance on Herr Hitler’s rancour and sarcasm, because of its effects upon the German people, who feel keenly that they were betrayed after the armistice. Whether there will be any official statement in regard to the speech depends largely on whether PresidentRoosevelt and Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, choose to regard it as a formal reply to the President's message. There is at present no indication of their attitude in this question. Probably the strongest Senatorial statement on the speech was that of Senator Logan: “The speech can be divided into three parts, lies, evasions, and alibis.” Stocks spurted early after the speech, but soon lost their gains. On the whole there seemed little reaction on the Exchange. NAZI PROPAGANDIST. EXPELLED FROM ENGLAND. LONDON. April 29. Dr Roesel, the London correspondent of Field-Marshal Goering’s “National Zeitung,” has been expelled from England. where he has lived for the past nine years. He was a leading Nazi propagandist.