The Hawera Star. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1928. GERMANY’S BITTER DRAUGHT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 December 1928, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1928. GERMANY’S BITTER DRAUGHT.

Deiiv&ma every evening Mt 1 o oioon in tt&wera Munair.. N-jruaarjby Okaiawra. Elthaui. Mamratoki Kaponga. Alton, inrle-yviilc Fatea. Wavarlev. M.0..01a. VVnakamara, Ohangai Weremero FVaoßi Road and Araratft

German resentment of any suggestion that that country was responsible for plunging the world into war in 1914 is reflected in the cable message which we publish to-day announcing the introduction into the Reichstag of a Bill which seeks to make any declaration by native-born or foreigner that “Germany caused the war” a. -penal offence. Fortunately, for the peace of mind of everybody outside Germany and for the. sake of the German people themselves, there appears to 1 be little hope of such a Bill being adopted. If the Reichstag did commit itself to any legislation so absurd it might plunge the publicists of the various nations, not into 1 war, but into a. further outbreak of the. controversy on “responsibility,” a subject which the masses in British countries are content to leave in the hands of the historians. The mere fact that there is anyone in Germany prepared to believe that he can do honour to the name of his country by proposing such a Bill will be received in various countries in different spirits, but probhbly pity and contempt will predominate. The mentality which can urge “mailed fist” methods for the control of people’s speech would certainly, if it could, control their very thoughts by similar heavy-handed means, and in consequence earns 1 the 1 contempt of persons ( of all other shades of opinion. But 'there is room, too, perhaps, for something akin to pity for the persons or nations who think in such terms; they are the Canutes of mod elm times and their impotence in the face of forces greater than their puuy selves makes them objects of derision to- some, but of pity to others. Contemplation of the plight of a whole’ nation harrowed in its feelings, not only by the accusations of the moment, but by the foreknowledge that the name of their country is doomed to- bear a certain’ stigma long after the present generation of defenders of the national honour have left the scene, stirs to life in some a, sense of understanding of the German point of view, though it does not disguise the futility of Germany’s hopes of ridding herself of responsibility for the war. If the Reichstag should be so unwise as to make it lawful to imprison for three months' and 1 deport any foreigner who indiscreetly aired his views on the subject, she would at once arrest the growth of goodwill which has been 1 slowly maturing during the eleven years of peace. The British peoples are not good at keeping bright the fervour of a. war-time spirit and/ there have been indications that Germany has most to expect from the tradiitonal British attitude of allowing bygones ,to be by-gones. Any attempt to coerce British opinion, along with the opinion of other nations, in regard to what should, and should not be, said and thought about. Germany’s part in the war would be fatal to a revival of tolerant, if not friendly, relations.