WAR & PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1939, Page 6

WAR & PEACE

RUMOURS OF GERMAN OVERTURE HIMMLER’S VISIT TO ROME. GOEBBELS ON NAZI AIMS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 22. The British United Press Rome correspondent says that according to political circles Signor Mussolini on December 1 entrusted Herr Himmler with a special message to Herr Hitler, after which Herr Himmler, after telephoning to Hitler, returned to Berlin a day .earlier than had been expected. Officials decline to discuss reports to the effect that the message refers to a Christmas peace offer, which, according to feelers from Germany received in Rome, it is understood suggested that if Britain and France abandoned their insistence on the reconstruction of Czechoslovakia and Austria, Hitler would be willing to deal generously as regards Poland. A Berlin message states that Dr Goebbels, in an address at a political Christmas party, said Germany’s existence was at stake. “The enemy,” he said, “is not concealing that his goal is to strike down Germany, dismember and split, her up. Either we resign as a great power or win the war. The whole plutocratic world is united against the Socialist German nation in the Mope of annihilating it. In Germany’s totalitarian war, the batle front and home front are united by the same sacrifices and national obligations. We promise our soldiers that our home front will do its duty and bear the inevitable sacrifices in order to lighten them. We shall talk peace only after victory."