NAZI CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1939, Page 5

NAZI CLAIMS

WAR IMPOSED ON GERMANY ACCORDING TO RIBBENTROP. TALES OF POLISH AGGRESSION. By Telegraph—Press' Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 24. Herr von Ribbentrop, speaking at a big demonstration in Danzig, said there had been an attempt to make Danzig, and the Reich responsible for this war, but in the truest sense the war was imposed on Germany.” Herr von -Ribbentrop continued: “After Herr Hitler in 1934 undertook to build new German-Polish relations with Marshal -(Pilsudski, Germany never left Poland in doubt that sooner or later the problems of Danzig and the Corridor would have to be solved. On October 24, 1938, at Berchtesgaden, I submitted an offer to M Lipski whereby Danzig would be reincorporated politically in the Reich while remaining economically dependent on Poland; also that extra-territorial roads .and railways would be established. Herr Hitler repeated the offer on January 5, 1939. The offer was not rejected but simultaneously there was a noticeable stiffening of • the Polish attitude towards German minorities and also anti-German demonstrations.

"M Li'pski replied on March 26 in a Note which was a complete rejection of the offer,” Herr von Ribbentrop continued. “It seems incredible, but it is a fact that M Lipski told me that any pursuance of Germany’s plans would mean war with Poland. I was dumbfounded. Colonel Beck declined an invitation to go to Berlin. Today we have the answer to the riddle of Poland's incomprehensible answer to Herr Hitler's magnificent offer—England was behind it. Poland’s concentration of troops on the German frontier before the Reich mobilised one man showed her changed attitude. I drew the attention of the Ambassador to the possible serious consequences and then for six months Germany observed how Poland terrorised the minority, threatened Danzig and provoked the Reich. Herr Hitler did not strike until Polish soldiers began to invade German _ territory. Now Germany will see a redistribution justified by the realities of the Ger-man-Russian guarantee for the whole future maintenance of order and peace in East Europe.” Herr von Ribbentrop said the removal of the Versailles Treaty had always been the keystone of Hitler’s policy. Herr Hitler, he said, had not even touched the vital interests of the democracies.

The Democracies nevertheless have opposed -us again and again, Herr von Ribbentrop went on to observe, and have rejected Herr Hitler’s overtures. "Germany,” he said, “is now determined to wage war against Britain and her Allies to the bitter finish and until security for Germany in Europe is assured for all time. Herr Hitler arranged to meet M Daladier secretly in 1933. but Mr Daladier declined at. the last minute, and subsequently fell from power because Britain feared an understanding between France and Germany. Britain's unconciliatory attitude forced us into friendship with Italy and Japan, whose co-operation will prove a guarantee for a reasonable world adjustment. German-Russian agreements are already operating in an exchange of raw materials for manufactures which will increase year by year and reach the highest point of turnover shortly.”

Herr von Ribbentrop added that there was no imaginable cause difference between Germany and the United Slates and that a quarrel was impossible.