Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-06-23

from Matreser. 81 wish to hear all
that you have to say, SIR"
"The crux of Lord Somerby's mis-
sion here" Matreser continued, twas
to explain why it had been necessary
for us to work in secrecy, but there
was never time, nor has any modi-
fication or variation in this scheme
ever been suggested, which lessened
the security of France. The agree
ment which is drawing towards it's
final settlement, Monsieur Lacheur
and Monsieur Desselin, contains the
written pledge of Germany to abstain
for fifty years from any act of war
or aggression against your country
and provides you with definite and
cast iron pledges that this promise
will be kept. For this you pay
what? You pay nothing. England
pays for you
For the first time Matresser felt
that he had impressed his auditors.
It is true that they had flinched at
that last badly spoken statement but
they listened to it without protesta-
tion.. Lacheur rose to his feet and
paced the room. With a glance of
apology towards, Matresser, he beck
oned to Desselin and whispered for a
moment or two in his ear.
Matresser, grateful for the respite,
leaned back in his chair. The early
morning fatigue Of man who has
been without sleep for many hours
was stealing upon him. Presently
Lacheur and his companion returned
to their places. A glance from the
former gave Matresser the cue to con-
tinue.
"You must forgive me-" he went on,
eff I have spoken too frankly, but it
is at your own request and misun-
derstanding between us now would be
fatal. England is willing to offer as
free gift those colonies which have
cost her millions to subdue, to say
nothing of the lives Of her soldiers
spent in their conquest. I am an Eng
lishman and yet dare to say that no
nation in the world has ever made
such gesture for peace or offered
such sacrifice to bring it about. I
ask you, Monsieur Lacheur, and you,
Monsieur Desselin, to recognize that
fact and to impress it upon your Presi-
dent. Announce it yourself from the
rostrum, Monsieur Lacheur, point to
it--why not ?--as a diplomatic triumph
achieved by your government, and
you should remain in office by popu-
lar acclaim. Danish forever from
your minds any idea that England,
who has never ceased to consider you
her ally, has any selfish advantage to
gain by the carrying out of this great
scheme. It is simply sincere effort
to give peace to the world"
There was a brief silence. Mon
sieur Lacheur exchanged few words
in an undertone with his companion.
"You must forgive us, Lord Mat
resser," Lacheur said, eff I confess
that you have left us-shall I say a
little trouble. We recognize your sin
cerity but the terms in which you have
expressed yourself have been, to say
the least of it, unusual"
81 am not politician" Matresser
replied, neither am I a diplomat. I
have travelled all my life in different
parts of the British Empire and of
Europe and I believe I can say that
I was among the first to discover the
real feeling in Germany. have in
terested myself in that because long
ago I came to the conclusion that
European peace with discontinued
Germany could never become per-
manent condition"
"The conclusion was without doubt
justified but I shall be as frank as