Evening star., 1933-04-15
Ambassador Luther's Mission.


DR.. Hans Luther, Germany's new AM
bassador to the United States, has
reached Washington and will present
his credentials to President Roosevelt
next week. The American Government
and people are complimented by the
dispatch to this Capital of German OF
DR.. Luther's eminent background. Both
because of his personal worth and
achievements and the fact that he rep
resents a nation which has held high
place in the worlds esteem, the Amer
ican people will extend him a cordial
welcome. They will wish him success
in mission undertaken under condi-
tions not ordinarily encountered by the
new envoy of friendly government.
The Ambassador of Nazi-ruled Ger
many will find himself called upon
from the outset to essay the task of re-
building the structure of good will which
his two immediate predecessors-Herren
Won Nathan and Won Prittwitz-did 50
much to erect and maintain. Their
joint labors, setting in year or two
after the close of the World War, sue
ceeded in almost completely obliterating
the tragic memories and rancors of that
cataclysm. Up to few months ago,
before the Reich fell under the sway
of Hitlerism, it could be said that Ger
man-American relations were as nor
malized as if the Stars and Stripes had
never waived from Fort Ehrenbreit-
stein Rhine as the token of Ger
many humbled and conquered in part
by American force. The German peo-
pie had become our friends again, and
we theirs. On Americas part, proofs Of
reconciliation, of readiness to let by
cones be bygones, were ample, diversi-
fed and constant.
DR.. Luther, astute and accomplished
student of affairs that he is, will not be
long on our soil before he discovers that
American opinion of Germany has un-
dergone change He will find the sub
stratum of respect for the German
people as a whole possibly a little
cracked, but not destroyed. What he
will indubitably discern is deep-seated
and widespread resentment of the re-
crudescence in Germany Of what was
pilloried in the British House of Com
mons this week as "the old Prussianism,
with added savagery, racial pride with
exclusiveness." DR.. Luther will expert
ence no difficulty in learning that
American public opinion, regardless Of
creed. party or section, remains pro-
foundly shocked by events which have
dragged the good name Of the German
Fatherland into globs-wide disrepute.
The policies which prompted those
events are part and parcel of the polit-
ical creed Of the party now in dicta-
torial control of the German state.
They are therefore German official poll
cies. The Nazis are enthroned by what
they claim to be the sovereign will
of the German people. What the Hitler
government chooses to do within the
Reich's borders is matter for 1t alone
to decree. But 1t is no less within the
province of the outside world to hold
its own opinion of the humanitarian
justice and righteousness Of such rule
as now is instituted there. DR.. Luther
has come to country whose political
system is based on the inalienable
equality of all races and faiths, a
country which has delighted to accord
some Of its highest honors to men
whose creed and origin are anathema in
the Germany of this incredible hour.
AS he has opportunity to observe and
analyze the American scene, DR.. Luther
is destined to be convinced that as long
as Germany continues to pursue the
policies of medieval oppression now in
force neither his government nor his
country can expect from the American
people a continuance of that whole
hearted friendship which took slow but
steady root between 1922 and 1888