Hitler to Americans
No doubt it was an achievement for the Hearst Press to secure an interview with Herr Hitler from their Berlin repre- sentative, Mr. Karl von Wiegand ; but also it was a fine oppor- tunity for Hitler to explain to Americans how completely disin- terested he was in their affairs. " I believe in America for the AmeriE.ans and Europe for the Europeans." But that, as President Roosevelt remarked at his Press conference, " brings recollec- tions." The same assurances as are now given to the United States were given, when expedient, to Austria, Czecho-Slova- kia, Poland, Norway, Holland and Belgium. No country is ever so much in danger as when Hitler assures it that it is safe. As for his comments about England, the only remarkable thing about them is their moderation. He refrained from repeating earlier Nazi promises wholly to destroy England, professing now to content himself with destroying the English capitalist clique and British hegemony at sea, and taking over the former German Colonies. It was skilful to bring in the expression " freedom of the seas," a catchword which once indicated neutral objections to Britain's power of blockade. But any- thing that Hitler may say today has lost propaganda-value, since it is simply disbelieved in America, as in Europe. His past promises are known ; his actions are fresh in the memory of everyone ; and the two do not agree. The significance of Hitler's statements lies not in what they say but in the reason he may have for speaking. At the moment what he wishes to do is to dispel the fears of the American people and lull them into continued isolationism.
