MARSHAL VON HINDENBURG
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sta,—Probably most of your readers shared, as .I did, your opinion that it would be a European misfortune if Marshal Hindenburg were elected President of the German Republic. The modification of that view, which you have since expressed, was effected in my ease soon after the Election by a visit to Germany. It is true that I did not meet any of the military or reactionary classes, but I was surprised to find that my friends, old and new, of the peaceful educated middle class, including Catholics, were almost without exception for Hindenburg. Negatively, his election had no fears for them. Nobody in Germany, they all said, wants another war, and if anyone knows how foolish and impossible a• war would be it is Marshal Hindenburg. But the positive ground for their support was that his election means a victory for morality, a return to honesty and high ideals, as compared with the lower -standards and often self-seeking methods of not a-few of their Ministers since the War ; and also that it would promote German unity. Even a Social-Democratic member of the Reichstag—who since our meeting four years ago had held Cabinet office—was in no way disquieted with the result. He thought little of Hindenburg intellectually or as a politician, but spoke of him as an upright, honourable man, whose great aim would be to work for the much-desired unity of the German people ; nor would his election increase the chances of war, which is unthinkable and desired by none.
My experience was, of course, very limited ; but the views expressed to me were remarkably similar, and were in curious contrast with the fears nf the few Belgian friends I met on the way out, who are dreading the war that. they are certain will come. Looking at the past only they have reason to fear ; possibly the Treaty of Versailles does not leave their con- sciences quite easy ; but, whatever the cause, one could not help feeling that the vanquished were in a much happier and more peaceful state of mind than the victors.—I am, Sir, &c., Benwell, Farizcombe, Codalming.
HOWARD HODGKIN.
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