THE REAL ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23699, 4 July 1940, Page 6

THE REAL ISSUE

•NAZI DOMINATION WHAT DEFEAT WOULD MEAN FUTURE OF MANKIND The real issue behind the present conflict —Nazi domination and enslavement of free peoples versus democracy and all it stands for—is ably discussed in the second War Number of "The Round Table," London. This is one of the rare wars in history when the stake is not merely national or imperial power, but the future development of mankind, says the article. For our part, if we lose this war, we shall cease to be a great Power. Our links with the overseas world will bo cut, and we ■ shall bo obliged for the future to do the will of Germany; for our insular position and dependence on food from abroad puts us utterly at the mercy of any Power that commands the seas. Out our downfall will bo only part of a world-wide tragedy. A new ideal will determine the future development of Europe and of much, if not all, beyond Europe—for how many centuries who can tell?

Supremacy of One Race Modern Germany, under Hitler's guidance, stands for an idea—tho natural supremacy of a certain "race." Dr. Rausbhnigg, a Nazi who broke away from the system, summarises it thus: "The ultimate aim is the maximum of power and dominion. The means is general subversion, the destruction of the existing order, so as to have a free hand for the building of a new and greater dominion. . What may the rest of mankind who are not Germans expect from Germany under the present rulers? Peace, certainly; but what sort of peace? . . . Nazism rejects all belief in tho brotherhood of man. Humanity consists of one ruling race and a number of other races naturally and eternally inferior N Systematic Lying Nazism also rejects every idea of inter-State morality. That deliberate and systematic lying is to be the law of international relations has been manifested to the world on several critical occasions. It will suffice to recall the last three. """

Hitler's words regarding Bolshevism, uttered on January 30, 1937, are quoted as 'follows:—"We shall look upon Bolshevism as an intolerable danger to the world; we shall try to keep this danger away from the German people by every means at our command . I refuse to be joined with those whose programme is the destruction of Europe." It is then'pointed out that the RussoGerman pact was signed 011 August 21,

1939. Then Hitler's words regarding the Sudetenlnnd are quoted"The Sudetenland is the last territorial claim which I have to make in Europe . . . when this problem is solved Germany has no more territorial problems in Europe (September 26, 1938)." On March 15, 1939, Germany seized the rest of Czecho-Slovakia. Then with Poland, these words of Hitler's on May 21, 1935, are quoted: "Germany has concluded a non-aggres-sioii pact with Poland . . . and she will adhere to it unconditionally." On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. The article continues: Such is Germany when she negotiates, with independent peoples. The fate of Czechoslovakia and Poland shows how she treats a people when she has it in her power. In his (Hitler's) proclamation of March 16. 1939, he guaranteed the autonomous development of its national life (Czecho-Slovakia). This is how the promise has been kept. All State property has been confiscated without compensation. All Jewish property has been similarly confiscated. If there was one .Tew among the board of management of any business, the business was regarded as Jewish, even if all the other members of the board were Czech. Municipal councils have been replaced by German commissars. Special law Courts have been set up for Germans with the power to annul a decision by a Czech Court. The aim is to denationalise the economic and administrative life of the country. That, however, was not cnouglf. Having destroyed the body of the State Hitler attacked its soul. The German language is given priority in all districts whether there are Germans there or not. Even at international scientific and learned congresses, Czechs must speak only German . . one university is left in the country, the German University at Prague, but no Czech is allowed to attend this or any other university in the Reich. The general effect of the German occupation on the life of the nation may ho judged by the fact that, since it took place, more than 2000 periodicals have ceased to appear 5 many of those who wrote them —journalists, men of letters, professors and artists —are in concentration camps. After this it seems hardly worth mentioning the outrages and persecutions which have taken place all over the country, or even tho atrocities of last November, in which more than 100 students and professors were killed and 4000 deported to concentration camps already crowded with their compatriots Hitler's object is much more than military conquest or even economic control". It is to dostroy the spiritual and intellectual life of the country by seeing that there is no one left to carry it on. He is doing that more rapiclly in Poland, but ho is doing it persistently in the Czech State. To close the universities of a country is to kill its higher cultural life; without them it cannot train thinkers, doctors, scientists, engineers, technical exports or even teachers. That is the way to kill a nation. You can destroy its. traditions, its intellectual life, its ablest people. A nation so treated is like a man whose higher nerve centres have been cut —a living thing which cannot think. ... The same methods are applied in Poland with even grosser cruelty. That is what nations in the power of Nazi Germany may expect.