‘WHOLE WORLD KNOWS’

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1939, Page 5

‘WHOLE WORLD KNOWS’

MR CHAMBERLAIN REPLIES TO VON RIBBENTROP TRUTH APPARENT EVEN TO SOME GERMANS. ALL ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.33 a.m.) RUGBY, October 26. Referring to Herr von Ribbentrop’s statement at Danzig on Tuesday, Mr Neville Chamberlain (Prime Minister) suggested that ic might be thought to have significance, since it followed upon lengthy consultations between the Nazi leaders. Mr Chamberlain said: “I do not propose to waste time commenting on the many details of this performance. No one in this country will be deceived by its distortion of-the truth.” “There is already abundant evidence that Herr von Ribbentrop has been no more successful in his attempt to mislead impartial observers in other parts of the world. Indeed. I even cherish the hope that, despite all suppressions and falsifications, there are still some in Germany itself who see where the real truth lies. The main thesis of his speech is that it is England and not Germany who desired and plotted for the war. The whole world knows this is not true. The whole world knows that no Government ever sought more ardently to avoid war, or took greater risks to preserve peace, than the Government of this country. We have already published, with complete frankness, all essential documents relating to the causes of the war. We are content to be judged by the facts and know that the verdict of the great majority of neutral observers is in our favour. Sir Neville Henderson's final report referred to the encouragement given to Herr Hiller in his designs upon Poland by Herr von Ribbentrop, who apparently advised him up to the last moment that Britain would not fight. Yet Herr von Ribbentrop now asserts that the whole object of British policy since 1933 has been to concert war against Germany.”