The Waikato Times. MONDAY, MAY 15, 1933. GERMANY OF TO-DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18944, 15 May 1933, Page 6

The Waikato Times. MONDAY, MAY 15, 1933. GERMANY OF TO-DAY.

The attitude which Germany has taken of late is one which fills every other country with misgivings and anxiety and even more, with uncertainty as to what her intentions leally amount to.. S e has established a Fascist form of government, which is obviously not what was wanted by a majority of the people, who lai e never theless accepted it without protest.

The features which have attracted attention are the measures taken against Jews and Communists. It is difficult to speak wi any moderation of the treatment of Jews. They represent m numbers one per cent of the population of Germany, but their position in the world of Teaming, of the professions, of business and of literature is out of all proportion to their numbers. In driving them out of the country Germany is expelling the best of her population, and will suffer as France did when she expelled the Huguenots, or Spain when she expelled the Moors, or Russia when she expelled everybody of any education. Whether Jews in other countries retaliate or not, Germany will suffer. With Communists the position is different. They are as much entitled to their economic opinions as other parties, but they propose to use force to introduce them, and those who object to the ideas are certainly entitled to use force to reject them.

But while these features have attracted attention they cannot represent the main policy of the Nazi Party. What that policy is, the world is waiting to know. It embodies an assertion of Germany s claim to equality with other nations, which theoretically would be cheerfully admitted. On the question of reparations it has already been allowed. Hem Hitler has disclaimed. any intention of immediate action respecting the Polish corridor, or indeed of any military adventure, but he will be bound by no agreement to limit Germany s armed forces. For the present warlike measures seem to be ruled out.

In domestic affairs Herr Hitler has promised much, and will have difficulty in carrying out the promises. He is at present m alliance with Nationalists, the bulk of whose party is represented by the East Prussian Junkers. They are large landowners, who cannot live without protective tariffs on food, which the rest of Germany cannot afford to pay. Hitler himself is no advocate of these high duties, but any attempt to reduce them would bring him into, conflict with the Nationalists, and as he already has quarrels with the trade unions whose wages he would reduce, with Catholics who advocate a parliamentary form of government, with Social, Democrats, who object to arbitrary rule, it is obvious that he cannot afford to quarrel with many more. The mere enumeration of his enemies is enough to prove the strength of his. following, which has enforced compliance, not only in Prussia but also in the smaller States of the Empiie.

A great party can hardly exist without a policy of some land, and the Nazis have not so far disclosed theirs.. They have some undefined ideas of making Germany self-supporting, but this is an impossible idea at this stage of the world’s history. . They would reduce wages to help manufacturers, while they would increase food prices to help Junker landowners. This last is probably a concession to the Nationalists, with whom the Nazis are working at tho present time, but it is an alliance that is scarcely likely to last. Nazis after, all represent the people, while Nationalists represent a. class. But the Nazis have antagonised so many interests that their chance of surviving for any length of time seems small. I hey represent the youth of Germany which cannot find any adequate employment, and in many instances, employment of any kind. Hitler has declared this to be due to the animosity of other nations, and they have listened to him. The disillusionment will come when it is found that the conditions continue when the animosity has ceased. For there is nothing in the Nazi policy which promises better times, and much which leads to the expectation of worse times.

Tho expulsion of Jews, the assaults on Communists, the suppression of Socialist papers all destroy confidence. The attitude on disarmament makes it doubtful whether any success will attend that Conference, and in time this will endanger the Economic Conference. Germany is as much in need of the capacity to export as Britain. If she cannot do so she cannot repay the large sums due to Britain and America, and the existence of these large uncovered debts is one cause of depression. When Nazis find that Hitler is unable to carry out his promises of improved conditions they will probably turn against him. For the good of the world the sooner this happens the better.

The policy pursued by Britain and France since the conclusion of the war has been mistaken. Germans, like other people, are divided in their opinions. When tho Kaiser ran away, a republic was formed, which represented the views of middle-class people who had suffered from war and desired peace above all things. France treated this republic as if it comprised the Junkers who had made the war. Britain took no lino of her own but said ditto to France.

If favour bad been shown the republic it might have been in existence to-day and Hitler might have been in outer darkness. It is hard to measure all the benefits that might have meant to tho conditions of to-day.