GERMAN PROPAPANDA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22114, 18 November 1933, Page 13

GERMAN PROPAPANDA

A CAMPAIGN ABROAD WIRELESS AND THE PRESS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) PARIS, November 16. The Petit Parisian publishes a document purporting to be a secret German plan for a propaganda campaign abroad through wireless and the foreign press. SENSATION IN FRANCE. PUBLICATION OF DOCUMENT. PARIS, November 16. A sensation has been caused by the publication in Petit Parisien of a confidential document addressed to German diplomatic agents abroad by Herr Goebbels’s propaganda bureau stating that all efforts of German diplomacy are being directed towards upsetting Franco-British relations, and that the guiding principle of Germany’s foreign policy is to secure restitution of the Saar to Germany and at least part of the former German colonies overseas. The 'document declares that France is Germany’s irreconcilable adversary. Britain is not greatly interested in th 6 new European conflict, but is considered France’s strongest partner and most dangerous to Germany. The document advises the use of propaganda drives to unsettle France’s alliances, especially with America, by means of wireless services and the establishment of personal relations with journalists and newspaper proprietors. “ Expense is no object.” Petit Parisien expects Herr Goebbels to deny the document, but the paper absolutely guarantees the authenticity. BERLIN RIDICULES STORY. “AN OBVIOUS FABRICATION.” BERLIN, November 16, It is officially declared that the Petit Parisien document is “ an obvious fabrication, published to poison the international political atmosphere.” A MILITARISED GERMANY BRITISH VISITOR’S OBSERVATIONS. The following extract from a letter written by a member of the staff of a British University who recently visited Germany conveys in a few words a vivid impression of the conditions in that country: — “ Germany was a great experience. Hitler is on the wrong track. Mussolini is far ahead of him. They both teach nationalism, which I think is wrong, but may be justified as a temporary expedient. But whereas Mussolini tells his people to express their love of country in unselfish work at low wages and for long hours, giving their highest quality of work without counting the cost so that Italy as a nation may flourish, Hitler teaches that the best way of serving one’s country and of exhibiting the spirit of patriotism lies in training oneself to be a good soldier. The people of Germany are being given military training. The school children of 10 years of age drill with the precision of old campaigners. Communal singing is an instrument that is being used freely. Niger minstrel songs and music hall songs are forbidden, and replaced by old German folk songs, which are very beautiful, and these are sung by all troops and school children when on the march. There are no loafers in the streets. The unemployed and those who have finished work for the day, don their yellow uniform and attend Nazi drills, parades, route marches and functions of different kinds. Correspondence is opened by secret police, so that I dared not write free criticisms while I was there. Anyone suspected of holding opinions that disagree with Hitler’s is watched, and if suspicions are confirmed, he is pul in a concentration camp. Brothers and sisters are n,ot to be trusted. If one of them can report to Nazi headquarters some unfortunate remark made in the family circle he gets a good mark and the offender a black mark. This system of espionage has a depressing effect. I myself felt it, and heaved a great sigh of relief as soon as we crossed the frontier into Holland. I at once entered into a free criticism of the Nazi movement with a young student in the carriage.”