CONDITIONS IN GERMANY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21290, 9 October 1934, Page 11

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY

INTERVIEW WITH HITLER A PROFESSOR'S IMPRESSIONS 'BY A. I. W11.1.1A11.v . LONDON. September 5. With the death of Hindenburg and Hitler's combination of th'.-. ofliecs of President and Chancellor in his person, one phase of the NationalistSocialist revolution in Germany hatended. A propaganda for and against the Nazis, which almost equals in intensity that marking the Communist Revolution in Russia, has bewildered onlookers the world over, but through the haze facts have emerged, and from these certain deductions of the true position may be made. Hitler still command:; the support of the great majority of Germans, 90 per cent, of whom endorsed Iris accession to the Presidency, but the vote seems to show a reservation of final judgment, and to point to hopes for the future rather than to satisfaction with results achieved during the last 20 months. '

Germany Morally Isolated In his foreign policy Hitlfr has suffered almost total defeat. Germany ii morally isolated. The world has been shocked by the shootings of opponents, the persecutions of Jews, Catholics and Protestants, and the rigours of the concentration camps. The one positive achievement, the 10-year truce with Poland, is offset by the antagonism of Russia because of that treaty, and her rapprochement with France and the Powers constituting the Little Entente—Czechoslovakia. Rumania and Jugoslavia. Proved guilty of provoking the abortive rising in Austria which led to the death of Dr. Dollfuss on July 25, Hitler has suffered a setback, perhaps temporary, in that quarter. Mussolini's prompt dispatch of troops to his frontiers has checked Hitler's Austrian plans, for the moment. The so-recent Italo-German friendship has withered right away. Friendly overtures to Britain and France have elicited responses the reverse of satisfactory. Instead more intensive defence measures have been undertaken against Germany. Relations with foreign Powers, then, can give little pleasure to the German people.

Internal Conditions Conditions at home ave alio far from reassuring. Foreign trade has as steadily declined as that of Britain and United States of America has improved. Hamburg and other ports are semi-paralysed. Statistics of employment are difficult to analyse. If there is improvement it is probably due to a spread of work, rather than to an increase in it. The standard of living slowly deteriorates. A resort to substitutes, such as artificial cotton and wool, and a docking of superfluous ornament from standing metal fixtures, recently noted, are too reminiscent of wartime expedients for comfort. The one positive achievement o: Hitlerian Germany is order, but thai "order" has a suspicious resemblance to the "order" that a Russian general once informed the Tsar "reigns iv. Warsaw." It is true that most Germans prefer the present conditions of personal safety in the streets to the insecurity prevailing in the latter phase of the Social-Democratic regime. Berlin Joyless and Depressed A conversation to-day in London with a friend, Professor G. Waterhouse, occupant of the chair of .German at Sydney University, was illuminating on present conditions in Germany. The professor lived in Germany before the war. and has lately spent three months there. Although he was more interested in the things of the spirit, politics forced attention also. He describes Berlin as quiet, joyless and depressed. There was a notable decline from previous high standards in opera and theatre. As to the people, his impression was that Ihey were friendly and peaceable.

Thrown, as was natural. mostJv among intellectuals, the Professor found them perplexed and puzzled. They cited the improvement in order and personal safety, and a decision in administration (this latter due to the abolition of party government, which cut out red tape'* as gains, but against them they set the muzzling of thr press, and the almost total loss of freedom of speech. They had been made suspicious. Having ascertained no one was listening, they whispered, "What's in the foreign press to-day?" The tendency was more and more to rely upon the best of the foreign press for German news. Many intellectuals were critical of the regime. After June SO. the day of Hitler's clean-up. one pa'd, "Germany will be shamed for J'OO years." Another said, "It is as though Goethe had never lived." While middle-aged intellectuals were critical, the younger intellectuals were not anti-Nazi. One said, "Hitler .i« more than a man to me.'' His hold on young people was remarkable. The aristocrats said little, but they were obviously concerned for the future. Socialist and Communist literature circulated secretly. The large "No" vote in the recent plebiscite required courage. The visitor felt that m.'my more lacked only courage to vote "No." That, however, he could not verify. It was an impression only.

Kegrard for Hitler Through all the criticism there stood out a great regard for Hitler. He gave a sense of dignity and self-respect. Up to Juno 30 admiration was tempered by a belief that he was not a strong man, and it is Professor Waterhouse's conviction that the clean-up was, in part, prompted by a desire to correct that impression. The frankness cf the first disclosure gave relief. Only 10 executions, so said the bulletin, but rumour quickly began to add to the number killed. The German press said that the foreign lied.

On July 10 Gocbbcls denounced the foreign press in a great speech entitled. "Germany as Mirrored in the Foreign Press." As a constant render of foreign newspapers the Australian realised that Goebbels's summary was very inaccurate; but ha carried hii, audience. "He is the cleverest orator I have heard since I heard Jaures 'the French Socialist), but he is entirely a demagogue,'' said Professor Waterhousc. "This man is a terrible danger to Germany. Something quite good migh ; . be made of Hitler, but Goebbels and Goering are so ruthless and severe that they are a menace to Germany's interests." The Truth About Executions Professor Waterhouse had an interview with Hitler next day. July 11. Friends arranged it. "My first impression was tragic. He stood at the far end of his office like a man soliloquizing with himself." he in id. "I advanced and saluted. Hitler returned my salute, shook hands and motioned me to a couch. He seemed to be mute." "I thanked him for the honour of the interview. Hitler, to my surprise, started to declaim against the foreign press: a great disappointment 1o me this. He said that the clean-up had taken place with the greatest order and least possible disturbance, but the foreign press spread lying rumours. They were out for sensation, but he could not always supply fresh copy." "I said, 'What you say about order is true, but when the foreign press said that more than ten were executed, and the rumours grew, my feeling of relief gave way to disturbance. We | now feel that more than ten were: executed'" "Tli'lrr's re ph- wa-' .•• '! iivnv.'d lately to'd Uvr German pcin.'it nil that it' wa- necessary i\,r ilicn: to know.' he said." j "I suggested that there would be iio t JJLijt.Uaßi^-c^mnAUoifsW 0 "* ,( *" »**" r t* Hit-*

ler replied that he would make * communication to the Picichsta:; two days lated. He men admitted iiit*t 77 were executed, but the well-in-formed Berlin correspondent of th» "Manchester Guardi.ur states in today's issue thut 233 were executed in Berlin, Munich and elsewhere. "Hitler then gave a long disquisition (in revolution. He said that he had never dreampt of being a revolutionary. He had been accustomed ta obedience, and obedience was tht~ cornerstone of his movement. He had heard that the S.A. 'Brown Shirts' were r-n the Munich streets without his orders. That certainly was revolution, and it had to be crushed. 11° could not do otherwise, even if i » lost his life tiie next hour. He spo.-" of the love of the German people f< ~ him. fie received acclamation.'- a;--, homage everywhere."

A Fanatic and Visionary "How did he impress you?' 1 asJvec. "He is a fanatic and visionary. A man of tremendous nervous energy. a man who at times borders en hysteria," said the professor. "As r«r.poke to me he raised his voice, ar.c almost shrieked. Then he calmer. down, but soon became crccited again " "He seemed to lack balance and self-control, as we English conceive it. He is not a refined man. but he is human and approachable, having a fund of kindliness. I felt that '.•.•.■ wished the German people well, did not appear to mind my - tion. He was agitated because h* was working up his Reichstag speecb He has great power of thought, bv his thought is not crystallised >. definite form. But he makes the Gemans believe in themselves. 1 had har, an interview with Mussolini in Rome a few lnontlu earlier. Mtr-:soli::i has .- more forceful personality, and he :- a statesman. Hitler is learning '::..; politics as he goes along, thus cr,< - tinuing his career of seU-instructici: He is a self-taught man." "Js war likely?" I asked. "I don't think there is immediate clanger of it. The Germans have no* got the equipment. But the spirit o' the German people is being trainee in a way that will make thtm (avoir. • able to war." "Who is on top. Hitler or the Ro:ch--wehr?" "That I cannot say. The R; iohswUv has sworn feal'y. My impression :- that Hitler is firmly in the saddle for a few month-. 1 rotne away i\■ ■. Hitler with tlv? convict! :n '.'■-.■. National Socialism cv-uH r~! .-.v.. v.'ilhoi;'. ureal m ..ciiiica.io:'.-."