SWAN SONG?

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 10

SWAN SONG?

Speeches by Herr Hitler have become of very little importance. Their main use has always been to sustain the faith of the German people in their semidivine Fuhrer, and that task ho has now made almost impossible himself. It was helped for a time while he could promise them advantages and win again and again what could bo held up ns advantages for them without a blow struck, but the Fuhrer failed when he led them into the war which makes a tragic climax for his artfulness. Twenty-five years ago when war began the Kaiser, who had displayed much the same talent for minatory volubility

as Herr Hitler, though lacking his crudeness, faded almost at once into the hadkground. A sterner arbitrament than'that of words had been provoked,, and the man of words was shown in all his feebleness. So it is likely to bo to-day. Herr Hitler has always been very regardful of the theatrical setting of his orations. Probably there was no time to arrange his immense, illuminated eagle for a background when he spoke at Danzig, but if it had been there those with the truest eyes would have seen not the eagle, but the motto that was displayed for another' ruler; “ Mene, mene, tdkel, npharsin ” “thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting”.” It is too late for speeches of Herr Hitler to deceive the Allies. Nazi falseness, which Great Britain at least had hoped for too long might have limits, has been too often demonstrated. It is too late now for threats. Wo have hoard all about the Versailles Treaty, and have no wish to hear more of it from Herr Hitler. It was a moderate treaty compared with that which the Pan-Germans imposed on the Russians at Brest Litovsk. It was relaxed whore it was most harsh for Germany. No peace ever signed emancipated so many subject races, and those cannot be forced back now undbr tho yoke. All parts of the Reich are now united, says Herr Hitler, but he forgets the concentration camps. There will not be much unity for the Reich in Bohemia and Moravia, where a revolt is reported, or in Austria. Hitler “ waited and waited ” for the Poles to accept a settlement—waited so long, as all the world knows, that his armies had invaded Poland before it was made aware of his final proposals. But Poland wanted to “ incorporate East Prussia and annex Pomerania.”- So these big States, when they are aggressively inclined, are always vitally threatened by the small ones. So recently as February, 1938, Herr Hitler had put it on record how all friction had been removed between Germany and Poland, making it possible for them to “ work together in true amity.” Herr Hitler now has had the “greatest day of his life.” But the Fuhrer knows better, and all the world knows better. His friend, the infamous Streicher, has been discredited even in tho eyes of Nazis, and what can happen to one false guide can happen to another. Great Britain has had much experience of Mad Mullahs. Herr Hitler’s speeches no longer concern her. They will soon concern nobody. The time comes for his swan song.