Evening star., 1934-09-30
BY SIR HERBERT SAMUEL,
Former British Secretary OF State
for Home Affairs,


w YHAT has been happening In
~ Germany during the last
wv year, and particularly dur
ing recent months, is of
immense significance. And
not only for Germany but for the
world. A great experiment was
launched, novel and momentous,
undertaken on vast scale, pursued
with vigorous energy. Now the results
are being tested.
There are two powerful forces at
work in the world, whose action and
interaction determine our politics.
Observation-Disclosures existed as long
as history; it appeals to the common
feelings of members of the same race
or citizens of the same country; it
may take the good form of sane
and worthy patriotism or the bad
form Of aggressive militarism or eco
nomic self -suficiency
The other force, making itself felt
intermittently in different ages in
various countries, but attaining wide
scope and continuous influence only
in our own times, is the effort Of the
masses of the people to reach a right
standard Of living. Its impulse is
discontent-a just discomfort with
poverty, unemployment and harmful
environment. Its goal is comfort,
security, knowledge-for every one.
Its method may be a gradual orderly
change in social conditions; attacking
each evil one by one by variety of
practical measures: preserving liberty:
using individual initiative, or volun-
tary organizations, or state action, or
a combination of these, as the con-
ditions may need. Or it may concen-
trate on state production in industry
and take the shape Of Socialism, as
we understand the term in Great
Britain. Or it may aim at COM
plete Communism. Whatever its form
moderate or extreme, practicable or
impracticable, good or bad-the move
ment fundamentally has one purpose.
1t is the striving of the modern world
to redeem its disinherited millions, to
evolve q civilization which shall be
worthy Of the highest intelligence of
man, and to extend its benefits to all.
nItIcI 1Inke0 1WO OEceS.
If it were possible to combine those
two forces, a power would be created
which would dominate mankind. In
their moderate forms they may be
united. Sane patriotism goes with
ordered social progress. But in their
extreme forms they are incompatible
In Germany Hitlerism set out to COM
h4 Hoti -
crudest type and Socialism of primi-
tive, naive kind were linked by q
hyphen and became National Social
ism. The combination was accepted
at its face value by millions of people
who had made no study either o1
politics or Of economics. Fascinated
by its oratorical presentation anc
mesmerized by all the arts Of mass.
suggestion, they could not discern thai
the union was not organic but super.
ficial. From the side of patriotism
and from the side of social discomfort
the people focked to follow the
leader. The success was over
whelming-for the time.
Nowhere had conditions developed
both the two elemental forces to such
volume and power as in Germany
After 100 years of continuous
propaganda the Germans had become
a closely united and highly patriotic
people. During four years of war they
had made the mightiest effort known
to history, showing military efficiency
a fortitude and a devotion that has
never been surpassed. The end was