OF GERMAN DESCENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1941, Page 6

OF GERMAN DESCENT

MR WENDELL WILLKIE BUT HATER OF AGGRESSION & TYRANNY. CONFIDENCE IN BRITISH VICTORY. IBy Telegraph—Press Associat ion—Copy rig ht '• (Received This Day. 11.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 5. Before leaving England. Mr Wendell Willkie issued a statement, for transmission to Germany, which says: ”1 am purely of German descent. The family name is Willicke. My grandparents left Germany ninety years ago because they protested against autocracy and demanded the right to live as free men. I. too. claim that right. I am proud of my German blood, but hate aggression and tyranny. "Tell the German 'people that my convictions are fully share by an overwhelming majority of Americans of German descent. They too believe in freedom and human rights. We Ger-man-Amerieans reject and hate aggression and the lust for power of the present German Government. Mr Willkie told an Associated Press of Great Britain correspondent who accompanied him on his lour that he was positive that no Government effort had been made to show him only approved places and said that when he saw women demonstrating against the system of food rationing he knew who these people were and did not believe they represented Britain. The correspondent states that Mr Wilikie will tell America that Britain wili win with American aid. it is believed that he is of the opinion that Britain is a good financial risk, with certain restrictions.