Hitler Pained by British Arming (2/23/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 2/23/39 | Augur

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[beebuster2000]

thanks.

[beebuster2000]

I guess chamberlain would be an early proponent of “soft power”, no?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Germany fears that Britain is arming not for defense but for waging a preventitive war against the Nazi Reich in the not distant future.

If only.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

This story appeared six months to the day before the signing of the Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact.

Ya wanna bet that the NY Times was singing a different tune on the subject of British rearmament after 23 August?

[Sherman Logan]

Germany fears that Britain is arming not for defense but for waging a preventitive war against the Nazi Reich in the not distant future.

By February, 1939 the chance of a successful preventive war were well in the past. The last opportunity went bye-bye when Britain betrayed Czechoslovakia.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Ya wanna bet that the NY Times was singing a different tune on the subject of British rearmament after 23 August?

It will be interesting to see whether the Times goes through the contortions that American communists did over the shifts in Soviet relations with Germany or instead back up Roosevelt by maintaining an anti-Nazi stance.

[Dutchboy88]

Or maybe the “smart power” that Hilary wants to exercise.

[DouglasKC]

It was interesting to read the part how Germany was manipulating the markets for gain. Sounded real similar to what is going on today although today no reporter is bold enough to dig and find out who is responsible for the economic attack.

Thanks for posting.

[CougarGA7]

This comes off to me like posturing by Hitler. If anything the increase in armaments by the British perticularly in sea power allowed Hitler to increase the size of his fleet and still stay within the framework of the naval treaty they have with the British.

Maybe he is just starting to set the stage for his conquest of the rest of Czechoslovakia next month.

[Professor_Leonide]

There’s a lesson for ordinary Americans in these newspaper clippings from long long ago.

Arm yourself.

[BroJoeK]

"It will be interesting to see whether the Times goes through the contortions that American communists did over the shifts in Soviet relations with Germany or instead back up Roosevelt by maintaining an anti-Nazi stance."

I suspect, Chamberlain himself is and will have the biggest turnaround -- from total appeasement to at least arming in self-defense. He can never make an effective war leader, but at least begins to understand (way too late) that war is likely coming.

On the NY Times, my impression is: it was always perfectly in tune with the thinking of President Roosevelt. From the beginning, FDR wanted to oppose Hitler though not, of course, in the sense which eventually developed -- with the US leading a grand alliance in total war. That would be inconceivable in early 1939.

So Chamberalin, FDR and the NY Times will all be shocked by Hitler's next moves. Churchill probably not be...

[BroJoeK]

"The dictators, in spite of their bombast, cannot govern long against the definite pronouncements of their public opinion. When the controlled press is silent the public finds other ways to convey its views to its rulers. Like the people of Italy, the people of Germany want peace. For the time being, at least, that craving must receive satisfaction.

"That possibly is the principal reason why Herr Hitler now shows an inclination to concentrate on great works of public utility or on measures to spread prosperity among the working masses. In any case, the British Prime Minister intends to leave no stone unturned to reach an amicable settlement of the present trouble in Europe.

"Still, those who approach the head of the British Government notice how his attitude has hardened in the last months. He still perseveres in his fight for appeasement and still trusts in the capacity of Britain to carry out that policy, yet he has lost some of his faith in the healing power of personal contacts if they are not accompanied by a display of real force.

"He is less ready than before to believe implicitly in personal assurances if the latter are unaccompanied by the provision of real guarantees. Mr. Chamberlain's umbrella is still proudly carried as a symbol of peaceful effort, but now is encased in a strong holster, which makes it look like a field marshal's baton.

So, Hitler puts on a show of peacefulness, while Chamberlain starts to think about sobering up. Too late, I fear...

[dfwgator]

I sure hope a lot of those armaments Hitler was pained about, ultimately wound up falling on Dresden.

[CougarGA7]

Looks like there was more posturing going on that day after I looked at this article in the UK-Telegraph.

Nazis draw up new claims to Prague - Feb 23, 1939