“MAN TO SAVE NATION”

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 6

“MAN TO SAVE NATION”

Hitler Gains Confidence of Germans OPINION OF VISITOR Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, December 1. Some interesting comments on tbe position which has been created in Europe by the withdrawal of Germany from the League of Nations were made bv Mr. W. Easton, manager of the “Otago Daily Times,” who has returned from a trip which embraced Great Britain, Europe and Canada. Mr. Easton prefaced his remarks by explaining that during the time he was in Germany he was impressed by the enthusiasm of the people for military display. It seemed to him that it was part and parcel of the German character to glory in everything that, was associated with tlie conduct of things military, and the position in Germany must be regarded in the light of that fact. When he was in Berlin he noticed that such an occasion as the changing of tlie guard was made the opportunity for a march down "Unter der Linden” of a large body of soldiers, and such was the interest of the populace in the appearance of troops that they were accompanied on their march through the city by thousands of people. It was also quite evident that Hit ler had gained the confidence of ills countrymen, and, in the course of conversation with German people, he had frequently heard the opinion expressed that Hitler was the only man to save the nation.

Mr. Easton said he did not think that the whole of the danger inherent in the aloof attitude adopted by Hitler had passed, but he was of the opinion that saner counsels would prevail ami that, although the German nation might be prepared to follow their leader into another war, Hitler himself was not blind to the inevitable consequences of such an action, nor would lie willingly allow himself to be forced into a position where an appeal to arms would bo necessary.

" From what he had learned while he was in France, he had come to the conclusion that the French people, provided that their safety could be guaranteed, wished for nothing better than to maintain a status quo and were certainly not anxious to provoke an open breach with their neighbour across the Rhine.

It was in tbe policy of the British Government, however, that Mr. Easton placed his firmest reliance that the way out of tlie present difficulties would be found. English people, he said, had had enough of war, and they were determined to exhaust every possible avenue before admitting failure in their efforts to bring about a better understanding among' the European countries. Britain w:jl; still leader among nations. She had recovered more quickly than any other from the effects of the world depression, and he was convinced that British statesmanship and British goodwill would play a leading part in the restoration of more harmonious relations among the nations of the Old World.