Evening star., 1939-04-28
Official Translation
OF First Part
Of Hitler Speech
Answers Curious Peace
Proposition Of Roosevelt
In Reichstoe Address
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
BERLIN, April 28-Following is
the official German News Agency
(DNB) translation of the text
of the first part of Reichsfuehrer
Hitler's speech today to the Reich
stag in answer to President Roose-
velt's peace proposals. The direct
answer to the Roosevelt plea COM
prises the last part of the speech.
Members of the German Reich
stag! The President of the United
States of America has addressed a
telegram to me with the curious con-
tents of which you are already ia
miliar. Before I, the addressee, act
ually received the document the rest
of the world had already been in
formed of it by radio and newspaper
reports; and numerous commentaries
in organs of the Democratic world
press had already generously en-
lightened us as to the fact that this
telegram was very skillful tactical
document destined to impose upon
the states in which people govern
the responsibility for warllke meas
ures adopted by the plutocratic coun-
tries: in view of these facts decided
to summon the German Reichstag
so that you gentlemen might have
the opportunity of hearing my
answer first, and of either confirm
Ing that answer or rejecting it. In
addition I considered it desirable to
keep the method of procedure ini-
tiated by President Roosevelt and to
inform the rest of the world on my
part and by our means of my answer.
Providence Prompted Me.
But I should like also to take
this opportunity of giving expression
to feelings with which the tre-
mendous historical happiness of the
month of March inspire me. 1 can
give vent to my deepest feelings
only in the form of humble thanks
to Providence. who called upon me
and vouchsafed to me, once an
unknown soldier of the great war.
to rise to be the leader of my so
dearly loved people.
Providence caused me to find the
way to free our people from its
deepest misery without any she'd
ding of blood. and to Lead it up
ward once more. Providence has
granted that 1 might fulfill my
life's task-to raise my German
people up out of the depth of defeat
and to Iberate it from the bonds
of the most infamous dictate of all
times. for this alone has been the
aim of my actions.
Since the day on which I entered
politics 1 have been moved by no
other idea than that of winning
back the freedom of the German
strength of the Reich, overcoming
the internal disruption of the ma
ton, remedying its isolation from
the rest of the world, and safeguard
ing maintenance of its independent
economic and political existence.
Violated No Rights of Others.
I have worked only to restore that
which others once broke by force.
have desired only to make good
that which Satanic malice or hui
man unreason destroyed or demol-
ished. I have therefore taken no
steps which violated the rights of
others, but have only restored that
justice which was violated 20 years
ago.
The present Greater German Reich
contains no territory which was not
from the earliest times part of this
Reich, not bound up with or subject
to its sovereignty. Long before an
American continent had been dis
eovered-to say nothing of settled
by white people, this Reich existed
not merely in its present extent. but
with the addition of many regions
and provinces which have since been
lost.
TWenty-one years ago when the
bloodshed of war came to an end
millions of minds were filled with the
ardent hope that peace of reason
and justice would reward and bless
the nations which had ben visited
by the fearful scourge of the great
war. I say reward for all these
men and women. whatever the con-
clusions arrived at by historians, bore
no responsibility for these fearful
happenings.
Peace Victimized Innocents.
And if in some countries there still
were politicians who even at that
time could be charged with respon-
sibility for this. the most atrocious
massacre of all times, vet vast num-
bers of combatant soldiers of every
country and nation were at most de-
serving of pity, but were by no
means guilty.
I myself as you know had never
played part in politics before the
war. and only like millions of others
performed such, duties as I was
called upon to fulfill as decent cit
izen and soldier. 1t was therefore
with an absolutely clear conscience
that was able to take up the cause
of freedom and the future of my
people, both during and after the
war.
Hllo SdiA lIlClC1Ol 9 obCdh Ill lIlC
name of millions and millions of
others equally blameless when I de-
clare that all those who had only
fought for their nation in loyal full
fillment of their duty were entitled
to peace of reason and justice so
that mankind might at last set to
work to make good by joint effort
the losses which all had suffered.
But the millions were cheated of
this peace; for not only did the Ger
man people or other people fighting
on our side suffer through the peace
treaties. but these treaties had an
annihilating effect on the victor
countries.
Insane Spirits of Revenge.
For the first time appeared the
misfortune that politics should be
controlled by men who had not
fought in the war. The feeling of
hatred was unknown to soldiers, but
not to those elderly pOliticians who