6 APRIL 1934, Page 2

State and Church in Germany .

The Nazi .Party in Germany is still waging a war on two fronts against the Roman Catholic and sections of the Protestant Churches, not, it would appear, with the full approval of Herr Hitler- Between the Catholics and the State, which today is the same thing as the Nazi Party, relations are increasingly strained, the most imme- diate issue being the resolve of the Hitler Youth organiza- tion to capture the Catholic youth as it has already captured the Protestant Evangelical youth. Memories of a similar struggle in Italy have significance, and the striking Easter message of sympathy from the Pope was outspoken enough to be refused publicationbyall German papers except the Catholic Kijiniscite Volkszeitung. Simul- taneously the Protestant Primate, Dr.. Muller, has appointed a special, commissioner to, replace the dissident leader Dr. Nienniller in his parish of Dahlem. This raises the whole question of the right of a congregation to choose its own pastor, and of the right of the pastor so chosen to his church and residence. It is in the religious field alone that the fight for some form of freedom in Germany continues, and the end is not yet.