Evening star., 1938-09-13

sions. They were rejected for reasons
which to US remain incomprehensible
We have voluntarily limited our pow
ers In an important region hoping
We shall never again have to cross
swords with the state concerned.
Not because we would not be able
to build more than IS per cent Of
the ships "a reference to Germany's s
treaty limiting her feet tonnage to
IS per cent Of Britains), but in order
to do our share bringing about a
final relaxation and paciflcation Of
the European situation.
As in Poland there was q great
patriot and statesman ready to con-
clude an accord with Germany we
Immediately accepted and made an
agreement which means more to Eu-
ropean peace than all the talk in
Geneva and the temple Of nations to-
gether.
Has Pacified Frontiers
And Accepted Them as Final.
Germany has today on all sides
completely pacified frontiers and is
determined-and has said so-that
she will accept these frontiers as final
so as to give Europe feeling Of Sc
Guilty and peace.
This self limitation and self restric-
ton seems, however, to have been in
terpreted by many as weakness. ]
would correct this error here and now
believe it cannot serve European
peace if the impression is allowed to
prevail that the Reich is disinterested
in all European questions and espe-
cially that Germany is disposed to re-
main Indifferent to the sufferings and
lives Of 3,500,000 Germans and pay
no heed to their misfortunes.
We understand 1t when England and
France represent their interests ir
the whole world.
But I should like to assure the
statesmen Of Paris and London that
there are German interests, too. which
we are determined to take care Of
and that in all circumstances.
I would remind them of my Reichs.
tag speech in 1888 when I told the
world the first time that there can bt
national questions wherein our path
clearly is defined and that I would
take any risk and suffer any privations
rather than renounce such essentials
Great Sacrifices Serve
As Prelude to Definite Limit.
No European state has done more
for peace than Germany! None has
made greater sacrifices!
But 1t must be understood these sac
rinces have limits somewhere and that
the National Socialist state must not
be confused with the Germany OF
Bethmann- -Hollweg or Hertling WAR
time chancellors).
If give these explanations here II
is because in the course of this yea,
events have taken place which force
LIS to revise our attitude in some re-
spects.
AS you are aware, in Czechoslovakia
after endless postponements OF a plebi-
scite, at least communal elections were
held. Even in Prague the untenability
Of the Czech position was recognized
They were afraid of the unity of
Germans and other nationalities. It
therefore was believed special measures
were needed to influence election re-
suits by the exercise Of pressure.
The Czech governments notion wa
that the only effective means would be
brutal intimidation. For this intimi.
dation . display Of the material
strength OF the Czech state seemed
called for!
Especially Sudetens were to be shown
the power Of the Czech fist in order to
warn them against standing up fol
their national interests and voting &C.
cordingly.
Benes Invented Lie
Of Mobilization Of Germany.
In order to make this display plausi.
bic in the eyes Of the world, Benee
president Eduard Benes Of Czecho-
slovakia) invented the lie that Ger
many modified troops and was pre-
pairing to march into Czechoslovakia.
can say this: Such mendacious al
legations are nothing new. About q
year ago the press Of another country
published . fake story about 10000
German soldiers landing in Morocco
The Jewish fabricator OF this lie hoped
to conjure up . war out Of this. Al
that time . brief notification to the
French Ambassador suf1ced to kill thi.
infamous swindle.
Again, the Ambassador Of another
great country was assured forthwith
that there was not word of truth in
this Czech allegation. The assurance
was repeated and also Immediately
given Prague.
Only the Prague government needed
this deception as pretext for its own
terrorist blackmailing and influencing
Of elections. Here I can only addi-
tionly assure that:
Firstly, at that time not single
German soldier more was drafted be-
yond those actually serving.
No One Soldier Marched
Toward Border TO Exert Pressure.
Secondly that not q single regiment
nor any other unit marched toware
the border; that during this period
not even one soldier was outside Ms
peacetime garrison and that, to the
contrary, orders were given on o,il
part to avoid even the s'i essst impres'