Evening star., 1934-07-09
The Eazis Change the Subject.

Inc hazls Change the SUBJECT.
Hardly any other explanation seems
possible for the amazing speech de-
livered on Sunday by Herr Rudolph
Hess. the cabinet minister, described
as Hitlers most trusted lieutenant.
than that the Eazi authorities are
anxious to divert the German peoples
attention from their rapidly mounting
domestic troubles. In the gulse OF
iervent plea for peace and under
standing with France, Herr Hess
uttered an impaSsioned warning
against impending war and thundered
that any country would invade Ger
many at It's peril. The fact that this
frenzied outburst synchronizes with
French Foreign Minister Barthous
consultation with British government
leaders, looking to a revived Anglo
French entente. may further explain
the sudden animation OF brotheTly
love for the ancient foe beyond the
Rhine
1t was only few days ago that the
German press under government in
spiration. was permitted to broadcast
the innuendo that France is the
mysterious foreign power" caught
plotting with Gen. Won Schleicher,
Capt. Roehm and other TRAITORS"
recently put to death by Hitlers firing
squads. Herr Hess now sings diff
ferent tune and pleads plaintively
with the recently excoriated French
to grasp the outstretched hand Of
German friepdship and thus spare
Europe the horrors OF another dew
astating war.
The device of changing the subject
especially OF setting up the bogey
Of foreign war--is not a novelty in
German politics, when the domestic
pot threatens to boil over. Certainly
the NaA dictatorship has every cause
ct the moment to distract the Reich's
attention from conditions at home to
imaginary perils and possibilities orig
mating abroad.
1t would be premature to assert that
the late ordeal of political convulsion
and bloody terrorism in Germany
pronounced the doom Of Hitlerism.
But that the Nazi regime has been
shaken to It's foundations Is beyond
question. The myth of its inyulner-
ability is shattered. Its chief bull
wark OF power-the Storm Troops
army-has been shown to reek with
mutiny and disloyalty. The Dictator
ship is at point where, in the last
analysis, II could be sustained only
by the regular national army, the
Reichswehr, and the extent to which
that organization, dominated by de-
votion to President Won Hindenburg
would support the dictatorship is open
TO grave question. On top Of all these
developments is the undoubtedly new
hope and courage which all of the
Nasis' enemies-Catholics Protestants
Monarchists, MilitaristS, Communists.
Socialists and Jews-must have de-
rived from recent events. They con-
tinue to be held in check as Hitler.
Goering and Goebbels consolidate
their position" and maintain iron re-
preston, but it as sure as anything
we'll can be that beneath the surface
OF events in Germany a mighty fer
ment is now at work and that the
Hitlerites do not underestimate its
portentous possibilities.
Such conditions. plus the gathering
economic gloom and the Reichs COM
plete isolation internationally. sum-
ciently explain the Nszis' ardor TO fire
the patriotic emotions OF an alarmed
diSgrlntled and disillusioned nation
by war talk and thus take its mind
of woes that are nearer at hand and
distinctly menacing to a regime tot
tering from a serious blow TO its
authority and prestige.