It is not far short of three months now since
the Reich. stag building was set on fire and an alleged Dutch Communist named Van der Lubbe arrested as the incendiary. So certain was this person's guilt that Herr Hitler declared he would have him not merely executed, but executed in public. Since then not a word, so far as I know, has been heard of Van der Lubbe. He has certainly .not been executed in public. But has he been done away with in private ? Has he been tried ? or has he escaped ? Van der Lubbe, it will be remembered, is said to have had Socialist as well as Communist associations, and that was made the excuse for the first attacks on the German Socialists. In that connexion, by the way, if it is true that any difficulties have been made about the entry of Herr Breitscheid, the Socialist leader, into this country whoever is responsible should be dropped on. Dr. Breitscheid, once a close associate of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, is the most moderate Socialist living and there cannot be a shadow of reason why he should not be unreservedly welcomed here.
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