Strange Case of the Iroquois

Southland Times, Issue 23942, 7 October 1939, Page 4

Strange Case of the Iroquois

“THE receptive powers of the 1 masses are very restricted, and their understanding is feeble,” wrote Adolf Hitler in “Mein Kampf”. It will be noticed, therefore, that the “information” solemnly conveyed to the United States Government about the proposed sinking of an American steamer is in the characteristic mood of Nazi propaganda. Apparently the Nazis believe that if they lie often enough and with a sufficient effrontery they must sooner or later exploit the credulous opinion that exists in every country and is particularly active in war time. Perhaps it is a little too easy to minimize the effects of these tactics. When it is remembered that in New Zealand, where public opinion is reasonably intelligent, rumours of the most absurd kind are discussed seriously in the streets, it should be possible to estimate the unsettling influence of lying propaganda in neutral countries, even where there is evidence of a strong pro-British sentiment. The war-time atmosphere favours the acceptance of reports that would be dismissed impatiently under more normal conditions. There is everywhere a higher emotional temperature, an appetite for strange news, a credulity that has its roots in fear. Moreover, the present moment has been well chosen by the Nazi propagandists, for the American public is intensely interested in the debate on the proposed repeal of the arms embargo now proceeding at Washington. A first-class sensation would do much to influence the course of the debate, although the result might easily be of a kind not anticipated by the Nazis. The question arises, however, whether or not the Nazis are relying entirely on allegations. Some days must pass before the Iroquois arrives at New York, and although American naval vessels are on their way to meet her there will probably be an intervening period during which the attention of the world will be focused on an unprotected ship. It seems hard to believe that the Nazis would risk an act of sabotage for the purpose of laying the responsibility on Britain when they must know that a failure in their plans would bring grave consequences. The most probable explanation is simply that the Nazis have made a naive attempt to influence Anglo-Ameri-can relations as the opening phase of an unrestricted propagandist warfare. If they go further than this they will be choosing the quickest way of bringing the United States into the war.