Medeshi Jan 03, 2009
Berlin's view of Somaliland dispute - Dec 29, 1938
It is stated in all quarters here, with remarkable unanimity, that there is not the slightest danger of the Franco-Italian dispute developing into war.
There seems to be a general conviction in Government circles that Signor Mussolini, with the support of Germany, will obtain some sort of satisfaction.
At the same time, the possibility of a Four-Power conference between Germany, Italy, France and Britain to discuss Italy’s demands in Somaliland and the Mediterranean is being talked about and was the subject of conversations in German Government quarters to-day.
It was emphasised that everything would depend on the result of Mr. Chamberlain’s talks in Rome, but, failing an earlier settlement, it was suggested that a conference on the lines of that at Munich might be the best way of dealing with the dispute.
PRESS ATTACKS
Meanwhile the German and Italian Governments will remain in close contact. If the situation at the end of January does not justify a visit to Rome by Field-Marshal Goering, a meeting may, it is stated, take place between Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano, the German and Italian Foreign Ministers.
The German press to-night attacks various British newspapers, including THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND MORNING POST, for printing reports about the alleged massing of Italian troops within the French Somaliland frontier and other disturbing developments.
[The statement published in THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND MORNING POST from a French Correspondent was not that Italian troop were massing in French Somaliland, but that six posts in French territory had been occupied by 400 or 500 Italian soldiers for the last 12 months, and that certain Italian military movements were now in progress in Abyssinia.]
This “agitation,” as it is called, is compared with the reports about the alleged landing of German troops in Morocco which led to the tension between Germany and France two years ago.
“FIVE OFFENSIVES”
The foreign Press is also taken to task in an interview with Herr Dietrich, Reich Press Chief, published in the “ Voelkischer Beobachter “ this morning.
He said that five great “ Press offensives “ had been launched against Germany in 1938. They were:
The “atrocity” campaign about the changes in the German army announced on Feb. 4;
The attempt to prevent the incorporation of Austria into the Reich;
The reports about the alleged German mobilisation against Czechoslovakia on May 21;
The attacks at the time of the September crisis; and
The “all-Jewish offensive” in November.
All these “ Press lies,” declared Herr Dietrich, had only played into Germany’s hands.
Berlin's view of Somaliland dispute - Dec 29, 1938
It is stated in all quarters here, with remarkable unanimity, that there is not the slightest danger of the Franco-Italian dispute developing into war.
There seems to be a general conviction in Government circles that Signor Mussolini, with the support of Germany, will obtain some sort of satisfaction.
At the same time, the possibility of a Four-Power conference between Germany, Italy, France and Britain to discuss Italy’s demands in Somaliland and the Mediterranean is being talked about and was the subject of conversations in German Government quarters to-day.
It was emphasised that everything would depend on the result of Mr. Chamberlain’s talks in Rome, but, failing an earlier settlement, it was suggested that a conference on the lines of that at Munich might be the best way of dealing with the dispute.
PRESS ATTACKS
Meanwhile the German and Italian Governments will remain in close contact. If the situation at the end of January does not justify a visit to Rome by Field-Marshal Goering, a meeting may, it is stated, take place between Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano, the German and Italian Foreign Ministers.
The German press to-night attacks various British newspapers, including THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND MORNING POST, for printing reports about the alleged massing of Italian troops within the French Somaliland frontier and other disturbing developments.
[The statement published in THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND MORNING POST from a French Correspondent was not that Italian troop were massing in French Somaliland, but that six posts in French territory had been occupied by 400 or 500 Italian soldiers for the last 12 months, and that certain Italian military movements were now in progress in Abyssinia.]
This “agitation,” as it is called, is compared with the reports about the alleged landing of German troops in Morocco which led to the tension between Germany and France two years ago.
“FIVE OFFENSIVES”
The foreign Press is also taken to task in an interview with Herr Dietrich, Reich Press Chief, published in the “ Voelkischer Beobachter “ this morning.
He said that five great “ Press offensives “ had been launched against Germany in 1938. They were:
The “atrocity” campaign about the changes in the German army announced on Feb. 4;
The attempt to prevent the incorporation of Austria into the Reich;
The reports about the alleged German mobilisation against Czechoslovakia on May 21;
The attacks at the time of the September crisis; and
The “all-Jewish offensive” in November.
All these “ Press lies,” declared Herr Dietrich, had only played into Germany’s hands.
