ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23492, 5 May 1938, Page 17

ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS

XO THE EDITOR

Sir—Last week you published some very sane views on the Anglo-German relations expressed by your own correspondent in London and by another correspondent who knew Germany well. The former gave prominence to the German view that the union between Germany and Austria was only a natural and logical step. The latter says that he "is satisfied that the entire German, nation, man, woman and child, is behind Hitler; that this nation is as anxious as we are to forget the past and be our best friends." This is common sense. To-day, under the heading " Force Supercedes Right,' you reproduce a bilious extract from one of "Scrutator's" hypocritical diatribes in the Sunday Times on " the annexation of Austria." This extract is reminiscent of the reference in a Dunedin paper to the same event as "The Rape of Austria." Surely such utterly stupid and misleading piffle has been so thoroughly flattened out by the plebiscite that any self-respecting newspaper should bury it quickly and for ever. Anyhow, it is their business, not ours. The above well-informed correspondent (not "Scrutator," if you please) also says: "If we continue to irritate, badger, goad, jibe and slander men like Hitler as we have been doing, we are going to lose everything " This irritating, badgering, etc., process may greatly amuse ignorant readers, but it will no more affect the progress of Hitler than will the dropping of fly specks on the face of Big Ben stop the clock. Hitler is going straight for making the Germans into a first-class united and patriotic nation, more efficient than they have ever been before. All that the papers achieve by their "jibing and slandering" is that they throw,dirt in the eyes of their readers. They would be doing a better service to the nation if they acknowledged the great work Hitler is doing, and then impressed upon our people the necessity of training strong men and good women who will not shirk to keep the quiver full. This, and this only, will save our nation from going down the abyss from which there is no return.—l am. etc.. Common Sense. Dunedin, May 4.