CONDITIONS IN GERMANY
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sra,—May I be permitted one final word of reply to Sir Evelyn Wrench, in order to dispel what appears to be a mis- understanding on his part ?
I hasten to assure him that I have the most complete sympathy with the aims and objects of the All Peoples' Asso- ciation : further, that I am not contending that nationalism, per se, is necessarily an evil timing. On the contrary, it can be fashioned into something sweet and wholesome. My quarrel with the brand of nationalism now rampant in _Germany— and here I do not speak merely as a Jew—is that it is largely a gospel of hate. The perverted mentality of the average Nazi seems to make it impossible for him to conceive of such a thing as a love of his country which is not fortified and stimulated by a hatred of other countries and even of elements in the German population not strictly conforming to some fanciful standard of his own. He is not in the least concerned to promote friendship between the citizens of all countries, or to " seek to understand the other fellow's standpoint." In the simplicity of his heart he honestly thinks he is best giving expression to his love of Germany by fostering and indulging his hatred of Jews and most non-Germans.
But, knowing Germany as I do, I still choose to cherish the belief that there are yet Germans who retain a higher and nobler conception of nationalism, and that, in spite of the present policy of repression and intimidation, the voices of these saner men and women may ere long be heard, lifted up in protest against the Nazi doctrines of hatred and aggression.
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