GERMANY'S SPIES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1937, Page 9

GERMANY'S SPIES

CO-OPERATION OF THE NATION. MANY NEEDED FOR PROTECTION. The Nazi State is not rich enough to pay all the agents and spies needed for its protection, Dr. Werner Best, one of the directors of the German secret police (G.S.P.), said recently in an official report. He called for "voluntary co-oper-ation of responsible forces of the nation, notably members of the Nazi Party," to provide news and information the political police require, writes Sigrid Schultz from Berlin to the Chicago Tribune. Dr. Best said the duties for which the political police require the help of amateurs are manifold. "The State must be protected against terrorists and efforts to overthrow it," he said. "The army must be protected against sabotage and espionage. The community must be protected against agitation. "National health and purity of blood must be protected against immorality and racial shame. The unity of the Weltanschauung (\vorld outlook on life) of the nation needs protection against poisoning- of souls or befogging of minds." Persons who once were members of parties opposed to the Nazis or who are unsympathetic to the Nazi movement must be the object of special watchfulness, Dr. Best said. "Thorough control of all walks of life and a deep knowledge of the significance of all spiritual movements are necessary," he warned. "There are two ways of doing the job," said Dr. Best, "either to create a tremendous staff of agents, spies and stool pigeons, or voluntary co-operation of all responsible forces of the nation, especially the party supporting the State. "This way is the one which the German political police choose, because it is born out of the idea of National Socialism," he declared. "The way has been followed successfully as shown by the co-operation of the political police and the 'security services of the Schutztaffel (Hitler Guards).' This servioe supplies the political police with . information." Dr. Best contended it was more important to prevent action against the State than to apprehend persons who violated its laws. Therefore he appealed for extra vigilance on the part of the German people. The political police bases its duties on the decree of February 28, 1933, which abolished the bill of rights of the Weimar Constitution. The department may issue warnings, make arrests, order persons to report to the police daily, confiscate property and dissolve associations. ,