GERMANY AND OURSELVES
Sta,—The breakdown of food-distribution, the failure to house the civilian population on any adequate scale. and the paralysis of industry in our
zone of Germany are now well known. What is perhaps not so widely' understood is the appalling suffering which these factors entail when' translated into terms of human lives. I tried recently to point out this fact to a Conservative audience in London, and was much disturbed by the hostile reaction of these comparatively well-off citizens. When told (to quote from a letter recently received from an Englishman in Germany): "Here in Hanover we have thousands of people living in unheated air- raid shelters, with no privacy at all, almost no clothes, no soap, the lowest possible level of food—xio home, no hope, nothing—and they are mostly children and old men and women," the predominant reaction was, "It serves them right."
Even for purely practical reasons such an attitude is unreasonable. If Germany is allowed to remain prostrate, her neighbours cannot hope to escape the consequences. Germany today is the key to Europe tomorrow— a vacuum ready to receive good or evil forces. Russia is well aware of this fact. We neglect it. In the words of a German: "The ordinary (German) people don't know your ways and means. And that is again- the most important issue: they must get to know you how you really are, and must not get the opportunity to look for someone else because of despair." If we fail to vindicate democracy in our zone, one of the- strongest potential bastions of freedom will fall.
On the higher ground of humanity such an attitude is indefensible. The situation is too desperate for individuals to disclaim responsibility and throw all the blame on the Government. At this juncture only prompt individual action can save lives. Either one believes, as a Christian, that no life is too insignificant to be saved, or one believes, as Goring did, that "it makes no difference if the people you administer starve." The choice is plain. On the way in which the British people re- act may depend the future of Europe and the world.—Yours, &c., 47 Campden Hill Square W. z8. PRUNELLA DOUGLAS-HAMILTON. 'Parcels of food and clothing can now be despatchea to the British,. French and American zones through "Save Europe Now," 14 Henrietta Street, W.C. 1.]
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