The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-03-04
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
Welles and Hitler

Continued from Page onel
crush the German nation and peo-
pie.
He was represented as having
told welies Germany was fight
ing to provide a stable basis for
peace in Europe, and to release
the world from the 'imperialiste
grip" Of Britain. He added, infor-
mants said, that the United States
apparently failed TO understand
this.
A considerable part of Hitlers
statement consisted of an attack
on Britain, 1t was said. and he
paid comparatively little attention
to France.
Reliable sources said Welles in
tended to raise the question of
American-German relations, but
that Hitler took the initiative
early in the talk, asking Welles
number of pointed questions re-
garding the United States attitude
and its alleged sympathies.
Germany Is Wary
Hitler was reported to have said
that In his view the United States
was not following a strictly neu-
trail course. and, as result, Ger
many found herself in a position
where she must be wary of all
democracies.
Informants represented Hitler
as expressing confidence in Ger
many's strength and the justice of
its cause. He talked to Welles of
the ''injustices" Germany suffered
under the Versailles treaty, it was
said.
Holds No Hope
Hitler was believed to have dis
cussed the Russo-Finnish war, and
to have given Welles almost no
hope that Germany might play any
direct role in mediation, because
of Germany's reliance on Russian
supplies in a probable long war.
AS regards the position of the
smaller neutrals, Hitler was be-
lieved to have told Welles that
Britain, not Germany, was men,
acing them.
He was believed TO have added
that alleged violations of inter-
national law by Britain had forced
Germany to take conferences
ures, involving neutrals, in self
protection.
Moy Visit Again
Authorized quarters expressed
belief that Welles would visit Ber-
lin again, presumably for another
conference with Hitler, after he
has talked with Premier Edouard
Daladier of France and Prime Min
lister Neville Chamberlain, of Great
Britain.
Welles started his conference
with Hitler at lila a. m. (2:14
a. m. psf and left the chancel-
lery at 12:40 p. m. (3:40 a. m.
psf. Present were Alexander
Kirk, charge d'affaires of the
American embassy; Joachim Won
Ribbentrop, German foreign min
ister. DR.. Paul Schmidt, chief for
eign office interpreter, and Otto
Meissner secretary of state for
the presidential chancellery.
Leaving the chancellery, Welles
drove at once to the American
embassy, where he was expected
to draft a report to the state de-
partment for the president. AS
was expected, he refused to COM
ment on his talk with Hitler.
1t was arranged for Welles to
see Field Marshal Hermann Goer-
ing, Nazi No. 2, Hitler's official
heir, air force chief and economic
dictator, tomorrow. He was ex-
pected to leave tomorrow night
for Lausanne, Switzerland, and
Paris, to see Daladier, and then,
at London, Chamberlain.
Tours High Spot
Welles' talk with Hitler was re-
garded as the high spot of his
tour, in that Hitler, alone of bell
ligerent leaders, was in sole charge
of his countrys policy. A second
talk with Hitler alone could over
shadow it, apparently.
AS TO this, an authorized in
formant said Immediately after to-
days conference:
I'VE do not believe this will be
Mr.. Welles' last Official call in
Berlin"