GOERING’S GROWING POWER

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 8

GOERING’S GROWING POWER

Internal Nazi Policy

FIGHT AMONG PARTY LEADERS

■While in Moscow the Nazi Foreign Minister, Ribbentrop, abandoned nor only Finland, but also Norway, to Stalin, declares “A correspondent in Berlin" in an article published in “The Spectator” recently. Stalin, he says, was to secure the Norwegian sea-coast by Hie Finnish frontier, and Spitzbergen, so as to give Russia a seabase on the Atlantic.

'The correspondent makes these statements in discussing what he describes as the growing influence and power of Goering. Among the higher leaders of the party tremendous fights are going on, which are directed mainly against Ribbentrop. Goebbels and Himmler. These struggles are directed by Goering, who enjoys the support inside the party of Rudolf Hess, the Fuehrer's deputy, Reich Minister of the Interior Erick, and others. The majority of the generals, too, stand behind Goering, who lias won over the leaders of industry and finance, and the intelligentsia. Since Goering is also the most popular Nazi leader among the masses, he is considered in all these circles as tinman who alone can unite the German people. He also has sufficient force of character not to hesitate before any decision or responsibility, and can therefore see to it tliat internal reforms are brought about, and the abuses of the system removed. It is an interesting fact tliat in Bor lin political circles today Hie main question is not what Hitler will do, but primarily what Goering wants, and whether he can succeed. Everywhere it is considered important to be on good terms with Goering, and au attempt is made to support him in bis efforts to win the really dominant inlluence in foreign and home politics, since lie lias become the sole dictator of Germany in the economic sphere. Opposes Russian Friendship. What does Goering want-now? In foreign policy he stands for a revitalizing of the German-Italian policy, and is opposed to the German-Russian friendship policy of Ribbentrop. The illusions of Hitler’s Foreign Minister both as to the striking power of the Russian Army and to Russian economic help have been destroyed even in Germany by the events of the last few months. The sacrifice of Finland to Soviet Russia was reached, by Ribbentrop during his Moscow conversations, and occurred without consultation with the military or naval chiefs or even with Goering. Only Hitler knew of i f . Goering lias never forgiven Ihe Foreign Minister for this, and since then has been his open and most dangerous enemy. Goering is working for Ribbentrop's fall from power. This enmity is further strengthened by the fact tliat Ribbentrop, it has now become known, while in Moscow abandoned not only Finland, but also Norway, to Stalin, in return for corresponding Soviet guarantees in SouthEast Europe and support against Britain. in North Europe, Ribbentrop earmarked only Denmark and Sweden as exclusive German spheres of influence.

Ribbentrop has assured German support for these aims of Stalin, i.e., to secure the Norwegian sea-coast by the Finnish frontier, and Spitzbergen, so ns to give Russia a sea-base on the Atlantic Ocean, because be aims at overthrowing British world domination with Russia’s help. This fact is only now made known, ami only through an interesting Press camnalgn in Hie “Nachtausgabe” (afternoon paper in Berlin), in which Dr. Kreigh, on Goering's orders, has brought this struggle behind the scenes into tlie light of day. Ribbentrop was furious about it, Goebbels denied it, but Goering had succeeded in letting the Rib-bentrop-Stalin plans be known both at home and abroad.

Goering, in the struggle against England, wants above all to make sure of Italian help and support, and represents the opinion that Germany has to choose now between Italy and Russia: there is only an “either . . . or” in this: and no "and also,” He is further convinced that his efforts to use Ilungarv and the Balkan countries more and more for tiie German war economv can only succeed if Italy too support* them, and Herr von Clodias recently went from Bucharest to Rome, after having received from Goering personally very definite and far-reaching instructions before leaving Berlin, It is, moreover, not without interest that a special emissary from Goering was latterly in Italy, Prince Philip of Hesse. What Prince Philip, who, as is known is a son-in-law of the Italian King, discussed in Italy lias not become known. Internal Struggle. In home politics, it is now being said of Goering that he wants to remove Goebbels, Himmler and Heydrich, ami to settle the Church question Goering and Goebbels are old enemies, and the enmity of Goering toward Himmler and Heydrich is to be found less in the fact that. Goering is an opponent of the brutal Gestapo methods than that he sees danger for himself and his political plans in the increasing power of Himmler, who, after Hitler himself (leaving the army aside), is the most powerful man in Hie Reich. Just as Goering on June 30. 1934, with the help of Hie Army, brut,-illy destroyed the power of the S.A. and of its leader, Roehm, so lie now plans the removal of Himmler, because he stands in his way. A stroke against this, the most hated man in Germany, would not. only increase Goering’s popularity with the masses, but. also with the officer corps. Himmler and Heydrich, since the Gestapo's outrageous treatment of Hie Foies and Jews, which was even worse than the most horrible methods of Hie G.P.U.. are being systematically boycotted by the ollicer corps. There is only an otlieial contact witli them, and they avoid every social and private intercourse.

Since it is known that Goering has often appealed for the of Pastor Niemoller from the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, that he was against the terrible Jewish pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, and that he deposed the infamous Julius Streicher at tiie beginning of Hie war, it is hoped that he may lie able to do much in the Church struggle and in the Jewish question. The aim of Goering is to become German Reichskanzler with the help of Hie Army, and to have dictatorial powers, not only in economic but also in Hie entire foreign policy of the Reich. Hitler under such conditions would become simply Hie titulary lie,'id of the State. Toward Hiller himself Goering bus always shown absolute loyalty, thus giving no cause for anxiety and offering liis opponents no scope for suspicion.