LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable length is that of one of our " News of the Week " paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym, and the latter must be accompanied by the name and address of the author, which will be treated as confidential.—Ed. THE SPECTATOR]
BROADCASTS IN GERMAN
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—I was staying in Austria at the time of the crisis over the Czechoslovak elections and had the opportunity of watching public opinion for several weeks afterwards.
Throughout Germany and Austria the majority of the people do not want war but they are led to believe by their Press and radio that all is going to end well and that public opinion abroad will eagerly welcome the dissolution and absorption of Czechoslovakia. It is only dimly realised by the few who listen in to French and Russian stations that the Fiihrer has suffered a temporary setback and these are easily silenced by the retort that French and Russian stations being in the hands of " Red " governments, do not present a fair and correct interpretation of events. In the German Press and radio one hardly finds any comments on the profound effects the air-raids in Spain and China have had on public opinion in England, France and the United States. The horrors of a war waged on civilian population from the air have not been brought home to the people of Germany and Austria. Thus, in spite of the improved technical means of communications the gulf between the Reich and its neighbours in the West is widening day by day.
Still, a way must be found to bridge that gulf and enable the Germans and Austrians to gain more knowledge about public opinion in this country, the more so since Britain is considered to hold something like the position of the " honest broker " in the struggle between the two ideological blocks. At least her policy as regards Non-Intervention in Spain is frequently described as such and favourably commented on in the German Press. If the Government and the B.B.C. would decide to broadcast the evening News Bulletin in German it would greatly help towards making the Germans realise and understand what is going on in the world. The B.B.C. is perfectly entitled to do so as German stations are regularly broadcasting news in English and other languages on short waves.
Just because of the position Britain holds in the minds of the Germans and Austrians her News Bulletin would be considered a more or less impartial report of happenings and the knowledge of how British public opinion is reacting to events will be of considerable importance in case another international crisis arises. This country must not be left to the reproach, however unfounded, that it has not made its position absolutely clear to the German people in time.
The broadcasting of the News Bulletin in German would be a valuable and effective contribution to peace and better understanding between the nations.—Yours faithfully,
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