Evening star., 1933-10-06
The Nazi Press.

bent their necks to the Nazi yoke they
have been familiar with an iron prin
ciple Of the Hitlerized state, which is
best rendered by the English word
conformity" Under that principle
everybody and everything in the Reich
must conform blindly, unquestion-
ingly, to the concept of government
which the Nazis have reared on the
ruins of the Germany that used to be.
Since yesterday the German news
paper profession knows what role it has
to play under the new dispensation.
From now on Dr. Paul Joseph Goeb-
bels, Hitler's minister of propaganda
and public enlightenment, Is the press
czar. Under him every German work
ing newspaper man Is not free
thinker, with a will or opinions Of his
own and the right to express them, but
Is a servant of the state, sworn even
under death or prison penalties IN GER
tain circumstances to do the bidding OF
Nazidom, to the exclusion of all other
considerations AS the Associated Press
correspondent in Berlin epitomizes the
situation, "the Reich has now thrown
out of the window the freedom Of the
press, as understood in America" The
only press Germany has left is gagged
press, reduced to the impotent and
ignominious status of government de-
49, fct
public opinion is concerned. Its legiti-
mate functions are no more.
The annals of modern civilization will
be searched in vain for a parallel to
this latest manifestation Of NaZi rule.
In proclaiming this most modern jour-
nalistic statute" DR.. Goebbels said he
expects it to serve as model for other
countries. If he really believes that, he
has a wretchedly poor opinion Of the
intelligence still prevalent beyond Ger
many's borders. It is throwback to
medievalism that almost battles COM
prehension, even after making full al
lowance for Nazi ideals respecting the
functions Of the state.
The code" imposed upon the Reich's
newspaper men compels them to be
licensed by the Federation Of the Ger
man Press, which has the status Of q
public corporation. For adjudication
of press law violations Reich Press
Court is to be set UP in Berlin and dis
trict courts elsewhere. The code" is
violated in particular whenever any
journalist writes matter calculated to
weaken the power Of the Reich at
home or abroad, the community will
Of the German people, its military
spirit or its culture and economy, or
that tends to offend religious senti-
ments." Other forbidden matter Is
anything in conflict with the honor
and dignity Of Germans" There are
further prohibitions, relating to libel
GUS publications and the like, but the
passages Just quoted are the ones Of
main essence, binding the press. as
they do, to the Naz regime with hoops
Of steel.
The HitlerlteS have done many
things to discredit themselves in the
eyes of the outside world, but none
Of their maneuvers excels In sheer
cynicism the trampling into the dust
of the last vestige of rights which the
Nazis had left to their already regi-
mented press.
It Is at least a satisfaction to know
that American newspaper men in Ger
many, who have given an exceptionally
fine account of themselves in report
ing the Nazihcation Of the Fatherland,
are not subject to the restrictions i'm
posed upon their German colleagues;
though it would not be surprising, at
any time, to hear that Hitler and
Goebbels had decided to muzzle for
eign correspondents in Germany also.