BRITISH UNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1939, Page 5

BRITISH UNITY

DETERMINATION TO RESIST VIOLENCE PESSIMISM IN FRANCE. HITLER AND MUSSOLINI COMMITTED. RUGBY, July 1. Danzig is the main subject in this morning’s newspapers. It is known, too, that the situation is being watched with more than usual attention in official quarters. Press reports describe the Nazi activity in the Free City and the prevalence of rumours of an early crisis, which, it is suggested, would be brought about by an ostensibly spontaneous movement for union with the Reich. The ca'lculation is understood to be that such a development would necessitate action by Poland, which, in the Nazi propaganda, would be given an appearance of being provocative or aggressive in character with the double object of persuading the German people that the trouble has been originated by the Poles and of creating, it is hoped, confusion in the public mind in the States comprising, the anti-aggres-sion front, particularly in Britain. NEWSPAPER OPINION. The British Press comment shows

that a movement of this kind, if it were intended, is defensive in advance. There is unanimous recognition that any attempt to change the status of Danzig except Ry consultation and agreement with the appropriate authorities would be a breach of the treaties and would immediately raise the question of the British and French guarantees to Poland. It is stated, moreover, that the position of Britain and France has been made very clear last week by the speeches of Lord Halifax and M Daladier. It is confidently assumed in the Press that Lord Halifax’s warning will Re willingly reinforced by Mr Chamberlain in a broadcast to be made on the national service tomorrow evening. Lord Halifax’s claim that there is complete national unity in support of the Government’s attitude to any renewal of aggression in Europe has received confirmation in speeches by Opposition leaders. The French Press is more pessimistic, agreeing that only a spark is needed to blow up the powder-keg that Herr Hitler has planted in Danzig. It is also felt that Lord Halifax’s speech has come too late to make a decisive impression on Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, who, it is feared, are committed too deeply to go back now. JEERING GERMAN COMMENTS. Dr Goebbel’s newspaper, “Voelkischer Eeobachter,” today said: “We are in the unenviable position of a harmless pedestrian in the midst of a dark wood, robbed of all his belongings and being invited to friendly conversations with the robber. One does not attach too great value to manners in such a situation. “The British seek a way to speak to the German people. The only way is via the Fuehrer. We are not impressed by the British threats. London should not complain of the rudeness of our language, but the crudeness of its language. She should not indulge in vague excuses, empty threats and silly bluff, but act.”