UNDER NAZI RULE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 8

UNDER NAZI RULE

NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS

PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, June 26. The impressions of Germany under Nazi rule were given by Mr A. W. Bryant, of Hamilton, who returned by the~ Niagara after an absence of two years in Europe. Mr Bryant is a nephew of Mr D. V. Bryant, of Hamilton, and has been completing his musical studies abroad, principally at Leipzig. "It is impossible to understand the progress of Herr Hitler without understanding German mentality," Mr Bryant said. " Most of the people picture the German as a stolid, direct and somewhat unimaginative individual. Actually he is imaginative to a degree, and he is only stolid and' direct when he has something on which to focus his attention. If his attention is; distracted he can swing from one extreme to another with amazing rapidity. After the war Germany had hardly any national life f6r use as a focal point. She was at the mercy of the depression, perhaps more than any other country. As a result Communism has made rapid headway among people who are generally strongly nationalistic. " I was in Germany throughout 1932 and until March of this year. , While I was there it was just a question of one election following another. The country was terribly unsettled and civil war was expected almost daily. A statement was even issued that the British ambassador would warn British subjects to leave the country if the situation became dangerous. Eventually Herr Hitler succeeded in establishing himself as dictator for five years. It is impossible to say whether the Nazi regime will succeed or not, but the conditions were such that it was imperative that one man, or one strong party, should be given an oppor-. tunity of controlling the dangerous situation. Herr Hitler has taken strong measures and has adopted what appears to be an intensely nationalistic policy. However, even in Germany there is antagonism to his 1 persecution of the Jews. Many people consider it the most colossal political blunder of all time, holding that no nation to-day can afford to alienate the sympathy of its Jewish communities. I do not know s what the political outcome may be, but it is certain that the persecution of the Jews will seriously interfere with the cultural and "artistic life of Germany. Particularly is this so in the world of music. Bruno Walter, one of the greatest musicians and orchestral conductors in the world, was politically dismissed just as his Leipzig season was nearing' its close. Gustav Brecher, another great musician, and director of the Leipzig Opera, was told to leave in the middle of a famous Wagner season. The same action was taken with regard to other notable Jews holding leading positions in the various arts and sciences. Many of them will not necessarily suffer. Immediately after Ms dismissal Bruno Walter received an engagement to conduct 50 concerts in the ; United States in addition to seasons in London and Paris. Germany alone will suffer from her anti-Jewish edicts." Mr Bryant added that the aggressiveness of the Nazis was not directed solely against the Jews. In Leipzig he had stayed with a gentleman who was mayor of one of the suburban districts. He was neither a Jew nor a Communist, but he had been summarily dismissed from office because he was not ,a strong Nazi supporter. Nevertheless, there was still a strong pro-British sentiment among the mass of the German people. They regarded Great Britain as their most dependable friend. ' ' Mr Bryant studied pianoforte and orchestral conducting during his trip, and gave a successful concert at Leipzig before his departure. He may shortly visit Australia to give a series of radio broadcast recitals for the Australian Broadcasting Commission.