The Archive · 1938

Hitler Reiterates Demands

"It is Last Territorial Claim I Have to Make In Europe," Declares Fuehrer; Fighting Speech Berlin, Sept. 27, G6TT is the last territorial claim I have to make in Europe, but one which I shall not renounce," declared Herr Adolf Hitler, in referring to Czechoslovakia, in a fighting speech at the Sports Palace here last evening before a wildly enthusiastic crowd. 'The most elaborate arrangements were made for the speech, which was relayed to Italy, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Holland, Portugal, Japan, America and' South' America, "If France did not abandon her claim for her 10,000,000 in Alsace Lorraine for 40 years," the Fuehrer asserted, before God and the world the right to claim these ten million Germans. Dr, Benes," he added, "has peace or war in his hands, Either he gives the Sudetens liberty or we fetch this liberty."

In the course of his address Herr Hitler lauded Signor Benito Musso-ini for his attitude.

One man who understands us," Ihe said, "is my great friend, Benito [Mussolini (eries of Duce). We shall Met forget what he has done, and the hour should arrive 1' shall stand before the German people fand summon it to take the same Jattitude. Then Italy and German} will defend each other like one bloc.'

Reference to Anschluss, At the outset the Fuehrer referred the anschluss. He recalled that fon Februnry 22 he expressed, for the first time, his fundamental uncondi-{tional demand.

"One statesman," he said, "failed to understand suMeiently that he had been removed, and I kept my promise. The second time I spoke was Jat Nuremberg. Today the world must know that it is no longer a, man who speaks to you but the whole nation.

"Tt is really not Czechoslovakia, its name is really Benes. Germany's {foreign policy is one of world philosophy. We do not want to suppress other nations. We want to be happy, according to our point of view."

Herr Hitler recalled several suggestions he had made to demonstrate Germany's love for peace. The first, he, said, was a demand for equality.

"We were prepared," the Chancellor proceeded, to' renounce all Jarmaments if other nations did the same, Germany's offer to restrict her Jarmy 0 200,000 men was declined. Her offer to renounce heavy, artillery, bombing planes, even all planes, and' also the abolition of gas warfare and heavy tanks met with a similar result,

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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