The New York Times Book of World War II, 1939-1945

by The New York Times

  NO SOLUTION BY FORCE

  As long as the parties to the dispute continue negotiations no differences are irreconcilable, the President said, but, once negotiations “are “broken off, reason is banished and force asserts itself.” “And force,” said Mr. Roosevelt, “produces no solution for the future good of humanity.”

  The President said that he was convinced that the problems faced by the European nations were not so difficult that they could not be solved by reason rather than by force. He asserted the conviction that all people in the troubled nations of Europe want peace to be made before instead of after war.

  Mr. Roosevelt said that the consequences of an outbreak of war are “incalculable.” He said that war would plunge the people of every country into “unspeakable horror,” and that the economic system of every country that was drawn into the struggle would be shattered and its social structures “completely wrecked.”

  He called the attention of the leaders of Europe to the fact that the hatreds that motivated many factions in European nations did not exist in this country, that our civilization was formed of all the elements in Europe, and that this country was enmeshed in no political entanglements.

  The sole desire of the American people is for peace, the President said, but they are not unmindful of the fact that this nation could not escape some of the consequences of war. For the sake of all humanity Mr. Roosevelt appealed to the statesmen who held in their hands the question of war or peace not to break off negotiations that would lead to “a peaceful, fair and constructive settlement of the questions at issue.”

  The President’s dramatic effort to avert a European war that he obviously feared would eventually involve the United States was made without any previous indication that such a step was in contemplation.

  SEPTEMBER 30, 1938

  Powers Make Accord

  By FREDERICK T. BIRCHALL

  Wireless to The New York Times.

  MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 30—The four-power conference to decide the fate of Czechoslovakia and avert a general European war by bringing pressure to bear on her to accept its decisions has met here, reached an agreement and adjourned.

  In something less than nine hours of actual conversation time it has settled everything to the satisfaction—more or less—of the conferees.

  It may be said at once that the decisions give Germany just about all she has demanded except the total extinction of Czechoslovakia as an independent State, which has never in fact been among her formulated demands, although that has been implied.

  The decisions indicate, moreover, that the Poles and Hungarians will receive their shares of the spoils of Czechoslovak dismemberment.

  The only change discernible from Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s Godesberg memorandum is in the period allowed for the fulfillment of the demand. That has been slightly extended and beginning tomorrow the predominantly German territories are to be evacuated and occupied progressively until Oct. 10.

  PROPERTY MUST BE LEFT

  The four governments—Britain, France, Germany and Italy—agree that the evacuation must be completed “without any existing installations being destroyed.” This covers the German demand, previously objected to by the British, that Czech farmers in Sudeten territory must leave their farms, stock and crops intact behind them when they evacuate, without compensation for them.

  The territories to be evacuated are divided into four categorres designated on maps appended to the agreement The first category will be occupied on Oct. 1 and 2, the second category on Oct. 2 and 3, the third category on Oct. 3, 4 and 5, the fourth category on Oct. 6 and 7 and the remainder, to be determined by an international commission that will lay down the conditions governing the evacuation, by Oct. 10.

  This indicates that the incoming German troops will not reach the Czech border fortifications until several days after the beginning of the occupation.

  CZECHS TO GET GUARANTEE

  All that Czechoslovakia gains, provided she makes the sacrifices demanded from her, is an immediate guarantee by France and Great Britain of the integrity and frontiers of the territory she has left. This guarantee is to be supplemented by Germany and Italy after the demands by the Poles and Hungarians have been met. A new four-power meeting will be called if those demands are not settled within three months.

  An international commission is to decide in doubtful territories whether plebiscites are necessary to determine their future, and if plebiscites are held they will be under international control. In the meantime, international “bodies” will hold the disputed territories.

  The final determination of frontiers is also to be carried out by the international commission and the right of option into and out of the transferred territories shall be granted to the inhabitants.

  Within four weeks all Sudeten Germans shall be released by the Czech Government from further military or police service and the Czech Government shall also agree to release all Sudeten prisoners.

  LEAVE-TAKING IS CORDIAL

  The agreement to this effect was signed by the four powers in the conference room at the Fuehrerhaus, Chancellor Hitler’s personal headquarters in Munich, at 1 o’clock this morning [7 P.M. Thursday, Eastern standard time]. The leave-taking afterward was most cordial.

  Herr Hitler, “on behalf of the German people,” thanked Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Britain and Premier Edouard Daladier of France for their efforts for European peace. They responded in kind and will return home by air later today. Premier Benito Mussolini of Italy has already departed by special train.

  Mr. Chamberlain spent an hour in the early morning discussing the agreement with two Czech representatives sent from Prague at his suggestion to receive it.

  Much stress is laid on the unanimity obtained in the conference and the mutual friendliness exhibited by the conferees.

  “I am not going to quibble about a village,” Herr Hitler is said to have told the others when doubtful areas were being discussed and the main points of his demands had been conceded.

  A duplicate of the agreement has been prepared for the Czechs and their two representatives will carry it to Prague by air this morning. No doubt seems to exist about their accepting it. What else could they do?

  SEPTEMBER 30, 1938

  NAZI DEMANDS MET

  Hitler Gets Almost All He Asked as Munich Conferees Agree

  The war for which Europe had been feverishly preparing was averted early this morning when the leading statesmen of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, meeting in Munich, reached an agreement to allow Reich troops to occupy predominantly German portions of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland progressively over a ten-day period beginning tomorrow. Most of Chancellor Hitler’s demands were met. Prime Minister Chamberlain, whose peace efforts were finally crowned with success, received the loudest applause of Munich’s crowds.

  Before the start of the conference the Czech Government sent to the British Government a memorandum on its position with regard to the Anglo-French proposals. The Czechs felt that whatever agreement was reached would be at their expense and public opinion was deeply depressed.

  Italians shouted their joy in Rome and elsewhere at the announcement of the Munich agreement. They regarded the solution as a victory for the dictatorships over the democracies

  Paris was relieved at the Munich agreement, but continued its war preparations. Likewise in London, where the tension was relaxed, precautions went forward.

  Pope Pius broke down and sobbed as he appealed in a world radio broadcast for prayers for peace. President Roosevelt urged the people of this country to offer such prayers.

  OCTOBER 1, 1938

  PARIS NEWSPAPERS HAIL PEACE ACCORD

  ‘World Can Breathe Again; Still Can Live,’ Says Provost in Paris-Soir

  Wireless to The New York Times

  PARIS, Oct. 1—One word, “Peace,” completely summarizes expressions on yesterdays’s events in the French press, and the same word fell from the lip of every one in the streets,
in camps and in homes.

  Jean Prouvost, in his front-page editorial in Paris-Soir, could do nothing so appropriate as to repeat it three successive times in opening sentence, “Peace, Peace Peace.”

  Some of yesterday’s headlines were:

  L’Information, “A Great Victory for Peace.”

  La Liberte, which had steadfastly demanded peace, “We were right: Long Live Peace!” L’Intransigeant, “The Miracle of Union.”

  Ce Soir, organ of the extreme Left, which has been the only element in France demanding war, writes on the four-power pact and its lessons.

  “Peace has been saved,” it says, “but it is the fruit of the terrible blackmail threat of war, which Chamberlain himself appraised when he said: ‘Rather than wait, Hitler is ready to risk a world war.’”

  The Munich conference, says Le Temps, had a considerable bearing on the moral and political situation of Europe, and continues: “The fact that the Reich Fuehrer, the Italian Duce, the British Prime Minister and the French Premier have sat together and reached an accord capable of producing a new spirit in international affairs. What should certainly be said is that the Franco-British accord played its role under tragic circumstances and achieved its end, the maintenance of peace, by closer European cooperation. With Chamberlain, Daladier and Bonnet were active makers of this spirit of conciliation and are entitled to the gratitude of the friends of peace.

  “France, in spite of all that was done to bewilder and disturb it, displayed calm and resolution. The army did its entire duty, from the high command to those who were called.

  “In coming days, as long as matters have not been completely settled, there is need of observing the same discipline. It is not all over yet but has started on the right track. The improvement will enlarge itself little by little.”

  Gallus, in L’Intransigeant, says the joy felt by all French people does not arise solely from relief, but contains an element of hope.

  NOVEMBER 11, 1938

  NAZIS SMASH, LOOT AND BURN JEWISH SHOPS AND TEMPLES UNTIL GOEBBELS CALLS HALT

  Thousands Arrested for ‘Protection’ as Gangs Avenge Paris Death

  By OTTO D. TOLISCHUS

  Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES

  BERLIN, Nov. 10.–A wave of destruction, looting and incendiarism unparalleled in Germany since the Thirty Years War and in Europe generally since the Bolshevist revolution, swept over Great Germany today as National Socialist cohorts took vengeance on Jewish shops, offices and synagogues for the murder by a young Polish Jew of Ernst vom Rath, third secretary of the German Embassy in Paris.

  Beginning systematically in the early morning hours in almost every town and city in the country, the wrecking, looting and burning continued all day. Huge but mostly silent crowds looked on and the police confined themselves to regulating traffic and making wholesale arrests of Jews “for their own protection.”

  All day the main shopping districts as well as the side streets of Berlin and innumerable other places resounded to the shattering of shop windows falling to the pavement, the dull thuds of furniture and fittings being pounded to pieces and the clamor of fire brigades rushing to burning shops and synagogues. Although shop fires were quickly extinguished, synagogue fires were merely kept from spreading to adjoining buildings.

  TWO DEATHS REPORTED

  As far as could be ascertained the violence was mainly confined to property. Although individuals were beaten, reports so far tell of the death of only two persons—a Jew in Polzin, Pomerania, and another in Bunzdorf.

  In extent, intensity and total damage, however, the day’s outbreaks exceeded even those of the 1918 revolution and by nightfall there was scarcely a Jewish shop, cafe, office or synagogue in the country that was not either wrecked, burned severely or damaged.

  Thereupon Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels issued the following proclamation:

  “The justified and understandable anger of the German people over the cowardly Jewish murder of a German diplomat in Paris found extensive expression during last night. In numerous cities and towns of the Reich retaliatory action has been undertaken against Jewish buildings and businesses.

  “Now a strict request is issued to the entire population to cease immediately all further demonstrations and actions against Jewry, no matter what kind. A final answer to the Jewish assassination in Paris will be given to Jewry by way of legislation and ordinance.”

  What this legal action is going to be remains to be seen. It is known, however, that measures for the extensive expulsion of foreign Jews are already being prepared in the Interior Ministry, and some towns, like Munich, have ordered all Jews to leave within forty-eight hours. All Jewish organizational, cultural and publishing activity has been suspended. It is assumed that the Jews, who have now lost most of their possessions and livelihood, will either be thrown into the streets or put into ghettos and concentration camps, or impressed into labor I brigades and put to work for the Third Reich, as the children of Israel were once before for the Pharaohs.

  THOUSANDS ARE ARRESTED

  In any case, all day in Berlin, as throughout the country, thousands of Jews, mostly men, were being taken from their homes and arrested—in particular prominent Jewish leaders, who in some cases, it is understood, were told they were being held as hostages for the good behavior of Jewry outside Germany.

  In Breslau they were hunted out even in the homes of non-Jews where they might have been hiding.

  Foreign embassies in Berlin and consulates throughout the country were besieged by frantic telephone calls and by persons, particularly weeping women and children, begging help that could not be given them. Incidentally, in Breslau the United States Consulate had to shut down for some time during the day because of fumes coming from a burning synagogue near by.

  All pretense maintained during previous minor Jewish outbreaks—to the effect that the day’s deeds had been the work of irresponsible, even Communist elements was dropped this time and the official German News Bureau, as well as newspapers that hitherto bad ignored such happenings, frankly reported on them. The bureau said specifically:

  “Continued anti-Jewish demonstrations occurred in numerous places. In most cities the synagogue was fired by the population. The fire department in many cases was able merely to save adjoining buildings. In addition, in many cities the windows of Jewish shops were smashed.

  “Occasionally fires occurred and because of the population’s extraordinary excitement the contents of shops were partly destroyed. Jewish shop owners were taken into custody by the police for their own.”

  MARCH 27, 1939

  REICH IS REBUFFED BY POLES ON DANZIG

  Warsaw, Politely But Firmly, Rejects Berlin’s Bid to Talk Over Free City’s Status

  WARSAW, Poland, March 26—It was learned today that the Polish Government had politely but firmly declined German suggestions for negotiations on Danzig. These suggestions were communicated to the government by Ambassador Josef Lipski, who arrived here from Berlin Thursday after a conversation with Joachim von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister.

  Herr von Ribbentrop wanted to learn whether Poland was ready to discuss a final settlement of the Danzig problem.

  This was not the first German proposal for talks on Danzig. In the past the Poles have declined all such proposals without much harm to Polish-German relations. It was understood that after President Ignaz Moscicki conferred with Marshal Edward Rydz-Smigly and Foreign Minister Josef Beck it was decided to give a negative reply this time too.

  It is pointed out that the treaty and conventions governing Danzig adequately safeguard Polish Interests and that the situation there is quite satisfactory. The Germans in the Free City enjoy full national rights and the National Socialists are in power.

  Political circles here are confident that Poland’s answer, though negative, will close the exchange of views about Danzig for the time being. However, in the present circumstances and the tense international situation the government has taken certain prec
autionary military measures.

  INTERNATIONAL UNITY SOUGHT

  WARSAW, Poland, March 26 (AP).—Poland, delicately poised between expanding Germany and Soviet Russia, moved today to meet a potential Nazi threat from the west by taking steps toward internal solidarity.

  One major step in this direction came with a report that the government had permitted the famed peasant leader and ex-Premier, Wincenty Witos, and his aide, onetime Interior Minister Vladlslas Kiernik, to return to their homeland after a nine-year exile in Czecho-Slovakla.

  It was reported reliably that M. Witos already was in Polish territory and his submission to the government’s authority would be announced simultaneously with amnesty for him.

  The anticipated repatriation of the two prominent political exiles was interpreted here as illustrating the internal consolidation now in process in Poland.

  MARCH 27, 1939

  Coughlin Denounces ‘Mongerers of War’

  Calls Paraders Here the Dupes of Leftist Foes of Germany

  DETROIT, March 26—Americans should express anxiety, the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin said today, because “uninformed thousands are prone to follow a warmongering leadership in New York and elsewhere” instead of working themselves to a point of frenzy in behalf of European democracies.