GERMAN PROTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23692, 27 December 1938, Page 9

GERMAN PROTEST

REPLY BY MR WELLES AMERICAN PRESS COMMENT "THE ONLY COURSE AVAILABLE" (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, Dec. 23. The New York Times, in a leader, says:—" Mr Welles took the proper course—the only course available in the circumstances. However, there is one phase of his comment which may be misinterpreted. The suggestion may be read from it that we believe we have the right to criticise Germany because the German press and officials criticise us, and because we find that criticism objectionable. Actually, the American people do not greatly care what the German officials or press think or say of them. Criticism from such sources is inevitable—even necessary. If the German press or its masters did not continue to sneer at our ways, traditions, and leaders, if they actually found in our way of life something in any degree commendable, we should have reason to suspect that something was deeply wrong with us." The New York Herald-Tribune, in a leader entitled "About Time," says:—"We cannot resist a feeling of profound satisfaction that we belong to perhaps the one nation of the world that is still able to make precisely the kind of reply to the Nazis made by Mr Welles. For years the Nazi Government has been behaving with guttersnipe manners, and yet manifesting an amazing sensitivity to the slightest rough handling from others. Other Powers have been meekly bowing to these susceptibilities. They are either allied with the Nazis, like Italy and Japan, are too weak, or, like England and France, are too involved in the tangle of European politics and Munich ' appeasement' to dare to be rude to the Nazis —as the Nazi propaganda machine is regularly rude to everyone else. The French are cautious, and the British quietly put down the soft pedal on their own press. The United States, happily, occupies a position, both of strength and detachment, in which it is still free to tell the Germans what it thinks of them. It will not, of course, do any good, but it was about time! " The circumstances made it obvious that Mr Welles was acting with White House approval and support. President Roosevelt called on Mr Ickes last night, thus dramatising his agreement with Mr Ickes's sentiments, after which Mr Ickes returned to White House with him and remained for hours. Coincidentally, Senator PUtman, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a prepared statement, declaring flatly that the people of the United States did nat like the Governments of Germany, Japan, or any form of dictatorial government, whether Communistic or Fascistic. A SENATOR'S PROPOSAL BREAK WITH GERMANY WASHINGTON, Dec. 25. (Received Dec. 26, at 10.30 p.m.) Senator King, in a statement proposed that the United States should sever diplomatic relations with Germany and end all commercial ties with that country. Senator King praised Mr Welles, who criticised Germany's policy last Thursday. " Herr Hitler can survive only as long as his Government has commercial relations with other nations," said Senator King. " Herr Hitler is a challenging note to civilisation and democratic governments. It is a particular threat to those who accept the moral and spiritual qualities of Christianity. An economic boycott by the United States and other democratic nations would strike him where he is most vulnerable."