Evening star., 1939-10-31
British White PAPER
Stresses Peace 0n|v
After Nazi Defeat
Publicity on Treatment
In Camps Regarded as
Final Proof of Aims
By HELEN KIRKPATRICK,

LONDON, Oct. 31.-The British
government has given eloquent evi-
dence of its determination to abolish
a regime reminiscent "of the dark
est ages in the history of man." in
its publication yesterday of a re-
markable document describing the
reign of terror existing in Nazi con-
centration camps. Those familiar
with the British mind and the work.
ings Of the British government can
only interpret the publicity given to
the treatment of Jews, Bible students
and political prisoners in the con-
centration camps as final, incontro-
vertible proof that this government
Is profoundly convinced that the
Nazi regime in Germany and all that
1t means must be eliminated for al
ways.
The description of life in these
camps may come as an unpleasant
surprise to many Wishful thinkers
of all countries who had persisted in
believing that the good the Nazis
had done overbalanced the evil, and
maybe there will be some who read
the British white paper, Germany,
1882" as clever but perjured Brit
ish propaganda There are a suffi-
clent number of neutrals who have
interviewed victims in these camps
and your correspondent is one of
them-to know that the facts pre-
sented of the inhuman, brutal treat
ment meted out at Buchenwald,
Dachau and Sachsenhausen are not
exaggerated. American consular au-
thorlties in Germany doubtless have
sent similar reports to Washington.
All Peace Offers Doomed.
Without Understanding the Brit
ish ability in the propaganda game,
although the general governmental
muddle in this aspect of the prose-
cution of the war surpasses all
others, it clearly shows that no peace
offers made by Fuehrer Adolf Hit
Ter, or any one connected with the
Nazi regime, have the slightest
chance of acceptance. The British
government has set its course to the
creating of better Europe and the
first essential is the defeat of Ger
many. Only when that is nearer
achievement can Great Britain and
France draw up more precise peace
aims.
Labor's newspaper, the Daily Her.
aid, today predicts that Maj. Glenn
ent R. Attlee, parliamentary leader
OF the Labor party, will next week
define his partys war aims in an eff
fort to satisfy public demand here
and abroad for the British objec-
tives. before Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain is able to do so. 1t
seems highly unlikely that Maj. Att
lee will in fact, do more than broad
ly outline Labor's policy, stressing
the necessity for social justice at
home while fighting for it abroad,
unless he has changed his mind
since last week when he explained
the reasons why detailed war aims
are impossible to lie defined now.
Threat of Communism.
The view Of the British govern
ment toward the peace that will be
established at the end of the war
the allies winning-might be stated
as follows:
The constantly changing situation
In Europe makes impossible any
drawing of new frontiers. however
roughly, until the outcome of the
war is more apparent. If the war
draDC oft nj,
an exhausted Germany will be boil
shevized is of the greatest import,
while the extent to which Russian
expansion will go is not yet evident.
1t may be necessary yet for the al
lies to fight another war afterWard
against Communism.
But the broad aims are the estab-
lishment of decent, honorable gov
ernment in Germany, real European
collective security, and the widest
development of all colonial territor-
les for the benefit of all nations,
not excluding the United States.
This time it is most unlikely that
Britain will cooperate in any efforts
to keep Germany weak and impov-
erished, although doubt as to the
German peoples ability to choose
wise leaders or to continue as a ma
ton for long period without am
billions to dominate the world must
have entered the minds of Britains
leaders.
Neutrals Due to Be Included.
There are many here who adyo-
cate dividing Germany into Cath
olic country and Prussia, and some
sort of plan along these lines is
bound to present itself at any peace
conference. But it is almost as
sumed that neutrals will be in
cluded in any peace conference this
time
Moreover it is generally believed
that the big man of any peace con-
ference will be Foreign Secretary
Viscount Halifax, who has been
shown up as a real leader of the
broadest possible vision, although
momentarily in the background.
AS discomfort with the present
handling of the war is increasing
daily change of government here
is inevitable sooner or later, and
Lord Halifax and Winston Chur-
chill, first lord of the admiralty.
stand out as the leaders of the new
government. Churchill is not young,
but Lord Halifax is, according to
British standards, and the world is
likely to hear much more of him
before many months.
Copyright. 1899, Chicago Daily News Inc.