GERMANS AFRAID OF WAR

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 5

GERMANS AFRAID OF WAR

FRIENDLY FEELINGS FOR BRITAIN PERSECUTION OF JEWS BY NAZIS A strong desire for a friendly and peaceful understanding between Britain and Germany was the outstanding impression gained by Mr J. B. Thomson, of Invercargill, as a result of conversations with many German people during a trip to Europe. In an interview with The Southland Times, he said that there was no desire for war in Germany, where the people were even more afraid of such an outbreak than the British people were because Germany had not yet recovered from the serious effects of the previous war. while Britain appeared to have surmounted her post-war difficulties. “Herr Hitler appears to be trying to create the impression that he has dragged Germany out of the ruin and disaster following the last war and that from the ashes of the old Germany will rise a bigger and greater nation than ever before,” said Mr Thomson. “He makes frequent verbal attacks on Britain, but I was impressed with the fact that while anti-British propaganda was being published in Germany, the newspapers in England made practically no comment on it. The British statesmen appear to think that Hitler has to let off a certain amount of steam and they let him go. At all events, they realize that any reply would never reach the German people as their Press is completely subject to the dictation of the authorities and can give no true indication of British politics. “In Germany, it was very noticeable among the people I met that they were trying to convey a feeling, without actually expressing it, that they do not know what is going to happen tomorrow,” he continued. “While they assimilate all the propaganda published in the newspapers, they are intelligent people, and feel that they are more or less in the dark and are only being told what the dictator is prepared to tell them. I am certain that German people are more afraid of another war than we are. They are still suffering from the effects of the last war, while Britain has largely got over them. The people are very loath to express an opinion about anything as there are so many spies about.” STILL JEWS IN GERMANY Mr Thomson said he made inquiries in Gerjnany why the Nazis had persecuted the Jews so severely. He was told that British people could have little idea to what extent the Jews had dominated the country. All the biggest Government positions had been held by Jews, banking had been under the control of that race and also a great deal of the merchandising trade. In many of the biggest companies, the chairmen of directors and even the whole board of directors had consisted of Jews.

“When I said I was surprised that the authorities had got rid of some of the cleverest men in the country—men that any nation would be glad to have —because they were Jews, I was told that it was not possible to make discrimination in that way,” said Mr Thomson. “I was told that there were still many Jews in the country, but they were only allowed to hold responsible positions in accordance with the percentage of their race to the total population of Germany. My informant pointed out a store on the opposite side of the street which he said was run by Jews who were still in business. I made a point of having a good look at that store, but I did not see 1 a single customer there and I formed the impression that the people were afraid to trade there for fear of reprisals.” Herr Hitler was making a strong point of capturing the interest of the young people while at an impressionable age. Loyalty to the Fatherland was strongly impressed in the schools and all suggestion of pacifism was strongly resented and crushed at once. The children were taught that Germany had the greatest army and air force in the world, and if the children related this propaganda to their parents who advocated peace, the parents would be in trouble if the children told their teachers of their parents’ attitude. In this way the Government was coming between parents and children.

LABOUR BATTALIONS The people in Germany were very poor and had to work extremely hard. Young men about the age of 17 had to join the labour battalions to make new roads and railways and later they had to join the army. In this way everyone was well disciplined and had to work hard. This might prove an advantage eventually in producing a more vigorous race, and Mr Thomson said he could not help contrasting these conditions with those in Britain, where there were many men 30 years of age who had never worked in their lives and who had married and reared families on the dole. Under the compulsory military system young men in Germany had to be taken back by their former employers after they had completed their training, and if there was no opening through lack of trade, application had to be made by the employer to a magistrate for exemption. “I was told by a German now living in London that it is very difficult to secure exemption and in some cases it is only possible by passing money to the court,” he said. A great number of new concrete roads with double tracks for fast and slow traffic and lawn in the centre were being made in Germany, apparently for the quick mobilization of troops in the event of another war-. He saw many troops and was much impressed by their fine stamp and equipment. The high cost of the army and public works, together with trade restrictions, was keeping the country poor. Even with maximum production it seemed impossible for Germany to supply all its requirements, whereas France was an exporting country, and so it seemed that France would be in a much better position to stand a war than Germany.

ARMAMENTS RACE Mr Thomson said that throughout Europe he saw evidence of the terrific armaments race. This would have to stop eventually, either through lack of funds or because the Powers had built up their military machines sufficiently. A tremendous number of employees was engaged in this work at present, and he felt that there was bound to be a slump when the work ceased. Conditions in Britain were very good just now, but he had no doubt that the armament programme was to a big extent responsible for the prosperity. He had been much impressed by the great manifestation of loyalty in England at the time of the Coronation, even among the poorer classes. He made a special trip to the East End of London and found that people who appeared to be having a struggle to make a living had found a few shillings to buy flags to adorn their houses. “While that feeling exists, there is not much likelihood of internal trouble in Britain,” Mr Thomson concluded.