"HITLER’S NEW ORDER”

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 3

"HITLER’S NEW ORDER”

VAIN SCHEME FOR EUROPE (R. H. Markham, in the ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’) Adolf Hitler repeatedly proclaims that he is creating “ a new order in Europe.” He declares that he is uniting Europe and preparing it for a better life. He says his terrible campaigns are part of a crusade or revolution for tho good of Europe. Might not this contention be true? Would not the unification of Europe bo an immeasurable boon? If the people of Europe were bound together and harmonised, would not one of the chief causes of war in the world be removed? Is it not possible that Herr Hitler’s bombs are blasting away the barriers that have prevented European unity ? Before answering, let us seo how diversified Europe is and how much it needs unity. That Continent has 400,000,000 inhabitants outside of Russia. At the beginning of 1938 they lived in 25 States. The largest State, aside from Russia, was France, which was not nearly so extensive as Texas. There were five States smaller than Vermont with New Hampshire; six between that size and Alabama; the rest ranged from the size of Alabama to that of France. One of these States had a million inhabitants; another about three million; three, four million each; five, approximately six million; two, eight million; the others from there up to 67 million, as Germany. In territory, therefore, the 25 European Statcs_ individually resembled the various United States; in population they are larger. Europe’s total territory, not counting Russia, is two-thirds of ours; its population three times greater. More nationality groups are found there than States. Since no agreement exists as to what constitutes a nationality, one cannot say exactly how many there are in Europe, but they exceed 40. More than 50 languages -and distinct dialects are spoken. There_ are half a dozen major religious divisions. A number of fundamental economic differences exist, such as the vital difference a century ago between our New England and Southern States. HAS CONTINENT AT FEET. This very great diversity of languages, religions, nationalities, and economic interests has caused most of the great wars during the last 20 centuries. This lack of harmony has done more to prevent man from reaching his high estate than most other causes. The bringing of all Europeans into harmony would be an inestimable achievement. Europe certainly needs a new order. Is it not possible that Herr Hitler is creating it? A glance at the map shows that within a very short period of time and •without causing nearly as much bloodshed as many wars have, he has gained control of most of the Continent west of Russia. Italy, the principal country that he does not hold, is his ally, and the Government of the second most important uninvaded land, Spain, has often expressed ardent sympathy with “ the new order.” So the Continent, one might say, is at Herr Hitler’s feet. Europe’s frontier barriers have been Europe’s bane. Now they’re downl Is it not possible this will give Herr Hitler a chance to weld Europe into a whole and unite 400,000,000 people in a sort of common, continental fatherland? Personal prejudices and interests should not prevent an objective answer to this question. The only possible objective answer is: Herr Hitler, with Nazi Germany, using Nazi concepts and Nazi methods, cannot unite Europe and cannot create a good new order. He may dominate Europe, but he cannot bring it the living unity it needs. He may keep it quiet in a Nazi prison, hut he cannot terrorise it into creative harmony. ■ European history shows that such a thing cannot be done. There have been many great attempts at unifying Europe. Hitler’s is the worst of them all; it offers unity only in subjugation. Philip 11., King of Spain and master of a vast empire, resembled Herr Hitler in his flaming fanaticism, but was far above the Fuhrer in his conception of a “ new order.” However, he could not forco Europe into his sacerdotal mould of unity. The Holy Alliance represented a stupendous concentration of economic, political, and military force, pooled by three empires. Its purpose was the coercive unification of Europe, and some of the ideals in whose name it acted were very high. But the Alliance failed to hold Europe in an imperial mould of unity. Charles V. was one of history s highminded men and one of tho ablest emperors. Ho w-as fur from uueuligutcued or base. He tried to unite Europe on a fairly broad basis, not devoid of tolerance. Still even bis ability and power could not force Europe into a dynastic mould of unity. When Napoleon mastered Europe he gave it a number of good things: among others a magnificent code of laws and ideals of liberty, fraternity, equality. He helped liberate a new spirit. He envisaged a unified Europe leading a unified world. But his building collapsed. He could not force Europe even into a revolutionary mould of unity. It must not be behoved that Great Britain was solely responsible for Napoleon’s failure. All Europe revolted. England merely aided a general revolt against a dictator. Prussia revolted, Austria revolted, Spain revolted, Russia revolted. The Battle of the Nations came before Waterloo. The Nations overthrew Napoleon. RULE BY A “ CHOSEN RACE.” Adolf Hitler’s conceptions of a new order are inferior to these others. Ho does not offer a Roman Catholic order, nor an order of established law, nor an order of “ holy ” justice as conceived by a mystical Russian emperor, nor an order of half-autonomous feudalism, nor an order of French enlightenment. The order he offers is of force, to be imposed by a chosen race, by a privileged group, by an autocratic chief. It is to be directed by one nation for the benefit of that nation. Its aim, as expressed in a hundred flaming appeals, is material gain and political power for one people. The juridical basis for this order, as dramatically expressed by its inventor, before the world, is: “I was the Supreme Tribunal 1” The international basis for tin's order is: All people are inferior to Germans. The exclusive moral norm in this order is; What benefits the German people, as represented in the Nazi Party, is right. The spiritual ideal of this order isChristianity is a coward’s religion, so must give way to heroic German gods. Its educational idea is; German science must show that Nordic Blonds have created everything good in historv. Enlightenment is propaganda. There are no basic civil rights, no

international neighbourliness, no respect for others, no love_ for retarded peoples, no gracious sentiments. The champions of this order have exalted brutality, excited hate, and fomented scorn, as the lead ere of no other major movement in European history; It might build new cement roads, establish new ’ markets, manufacture more automobiles, enable Balkan peasants to produce more pork. But Europe doesn’t live by pork alone. There are -about 80 million Germans and 320 million non-Germans in Europe, not counting the Russians. Most of that third of a billion people, though rather simple and timid—as most of the rest of us—are not poltroons. Essentially they have freer spirits than their fathers, who rejected tyrants. They will not permanently accept a universal, Continental prison for the sake of selling soy beans or the privilege of serving a “ chosen race. Instead of bringing the desired unity, Herr Hitler’s “ new order ” would only cause all Europe to beat its ploughshares into swords.