Fears Real War Issues Not Appreciated Here

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1940, Page 6

Fears Real War Issues Not Appreciated Here

“The real issues of the war are not appreciated to their fullest extent, I .am afraid,” said the Minister for Finance (Mr Nash) in an interview at Whangarei. “It is not a fight between nation and nation, but between two ideas.” “If we are defeated, we lose what we have gained in 100 years. “Victorious Nazis would not only impose harsh conditions, but would take away our right to self-govern-ment.” Even in. their own homes, Germans were afraid to express themselves freely, Mr Nash said. Tyrannies Within Tyranny Visiting friends in London, a German and his wife had enlarged upon the greatness of Hitler and Nazi regime. Next morning the man had called to tell his British friend not to believe what they had spoken, but they were terrified to take any other line for fear of their criticisms being made public. On a trade mission in Germany, Mr Nash said, he had seen smail tradespeople shiver when spoken to by a Government official. From his hotel facing the Kaiserhof, then headquarters of the Nazi Party before Hitler came into power, he had seen guards posted outside.' i There was a blackshirt to watch ! the brown shirt, and a grey-shirted member of the civil police to watch both. Without such tyrannies within a tyranny it would be impossible to prevent rebellion.