A German Liberal on Germany
ON DEWALL.
BY WOLF v AM just back from Germany. I went there a few days after the German Elections . and came back just before Easter. I, therefore, was on German soil in a most important period. The object of my trip was to renew contact with conditions in my country. I returned to London not without hopes.
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When I say this it does not mean that I have been converted to National-socialism. I remain a Liberal and a Pacifist and I deeply deplore that events in Germany led to the present development. I fully see the very grave dangers which may result from it and admit that much of the criticism presently directed against my country is justified. Yet, I complain that Germany is not being fairly treated. I have no axe to grind against the English correspondents in Berlin. I have the honour to know some of them personally. They are men who are conscious of their responsibility. They report facts as they see them and as they are reported to them. Their task is at present tremendously difficult. The German Press is silent (not the whole Press as. I may say as. representative of a paper of whose courage. I am very proud) and Germans will just now not talk about politics, even not to friends. The only people to be heard are the National-socialists. Most of them,. still talk the .: language of fanatical opposition, the language in which their enthusiasm for their leader and for their political aims was aroused, a language which is hard for others to understand. And the Press Department of the Government is working clumsily as most Press Departments do. In these circum- stances it is extremely difficult to look under the surface.
This must be especially difficult when the happenings on the surface demand so much vigilance on the part of foreign observers. Very - regrettable incidents have occurred and are, I am afraid, occasionally still occurring. Leaders of the Government and of National-socialism have admitted it. But what is worse are the deliberate legislative and administrative acts directed against a whole class of German -citizens : the Jews. They are the outcome of a furious opposition propaganda of fourteen years which sought in the Jews the target of their hatred because the Weimar Republic—which was the real ,enemy—had given many Jews a chance to rise. I am not -in the • confidence of Herr Goering and Dr. Goebbels. Those who enjoy this privilege would probably he told that only by anti-semitic Government acts was it possible to prevent more individual- violence from occurring on the part of their followers whose emotions had been roused to a high pitch of fury by that incessant and relentless propaganda of many years. I believe the attitude of the. Central Government has shown that those in power are already endeavouring to give the Government measures a more reasonable course so that a return to more normal conditions may be hoped for after some time. And as regards individual incidents I may be allowed to say this ; As a journalist I am a man who is used to travel with open eyes. I was in Berlin, Frankfurt and Nuernberg. In the latter town I woke up one morning in the middle of a raid on Communists. In Nuernberg I also witnessed the boycott day—which was a day of shame not only to the Jews. But nowhere I saw, the least act of violence. -On the contrary, wherever I went I had the impression that the Nazis showed remarkable discipline. I, too, heard tales. Yet I cannot prove them.
So much about events on the surface. Now, what is happening under it ? One very remarkable fact stands out : The German youth, German idealism arc whole- heartedly in the movement. Could that be if it was .a semi-barbaric movement, if it had no higher ideals than the baiting of Jews, the suppression of labour, and the brewing of troubles on Germany's frontiers with the aim of creating a new war ? It cannot be my task to explain National-socialism to English readers. I also do not know what road it will ultimately take. But I venture to give the assurance that there are good forces in the movement and to express the hope that if these good forces arc recognized, assisted and directed towards the proper road, it would. be to the good of Germany and of the peace of the world. One word is ringing. in my ears. I heard it in speeches of Adolf Hitler,.. of Herr Goering and of Dr. Goebbels : " Now we must try to .win and reconcile the German People." -Another word of importance in a speech by Herr Goering is : " Socialism and not Nationalism is the more important part of National-socialism." National-socialism is at present the only element that counts in Germany. It will stay. If properly, guided it may indeed lead to a remoulding of the German nation after new and pro- gressive national ideas. I regret that democracy has failed in this task because the odds against it were much . too heavy. .
I do not wish to conclude on a too. optimistic note. The situation is. bristling with difficulties and dangers. But if properly handled conditions may improve again. Germany is at present delirious and in this state of mind she is doing things which do not meet with the approval of other nations. I hear eminent statesmen say in this country : " Such a Germany can never be granted treaty revision." I may be excused if I do not concur with this opinion. I do not concur, not only from the point of view of a German who would never cease to plead for his country, but also from the point of view of justice, reason and common sense. The German people are delirious to-day, chiefly because the revision of the Versailles Treaty made much too slow progress. Their state of mind can only be cured if their grievances are healed. Herr Hitler loves Germany with a fanatical love, he loves her more than anything else. I feel sure that he would show the real statesmanship of a reasonable and conciliatory Leader if the hope of an early and radical revision of the Versailles Treaty was held out to him,
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