Evening star., 1938-11-17

papers of France
and Great Britain which circulate
in Germany will spread the news,
even though it is not printed IN the
German press.
AS for the German newspapers,
however, they have been whipping
themselves into such furious pas
sion about what America is saying
that the German people cannot fail
to read between the lines and realize
that the whole world is disturbed
again by the use of autocratic power
in Germany. Many persons are
alive in Germany today who re-
member quite we'll how the Kaiser's
government tried to minimize what
America thought on war issues, and
when 100000 American troops did
get to Europe the news was of amaz-
ing Importance in breaking down the
morale of the German armies.
Something of the same thing may
be expected to happen again. Little
by little the German people will
hear of how the whole world is lining
up against Germany and they will
begin to wonder how long it will be
before the processes of economic
and social law will affect the oppor-
tunities for trade and. indeed, sus-
tenance under even the best laid
plans of self -sufficiency.
Reflection of Resentment.
From the standpoint of the Amer
lean Government, the issue that has
arisen is not what the German press
thinks-merely reflection of Jewish
resentment. Stephen Early, the able
and alert secretary to the President,
was quick to make clear to the re-
porters the very day after Mr.. Roose-
velt's statement was published that 1t
referred equally to anti-Catholic &C
tivities in Germany as to the anti
Jewish rioting.
But the issuance of the statement
was not occasioned by pressure from
either the Catholic or Jewish groups
Of citizens in America. It came as
result of a spontaneous expression
of horror which arose from all
classes and from followers of all
religions and creeds. Indeed, if the
Nazis have any doubt as to how
far-reaching their actions have been
in alternating American opinion, they
need only read the brave editorial
written by the New York Stats
Zeitung, one of the most important
German language newspapers in
America, which is owned by nom
Jewish family Of distinction in the
service of America.
Reflects Uneaslness.
This editorial reflects the uneasi-
ness, indeed the unhappiness of
Americans of German extraction
and ancestry who realize that what
is now done in the name of Germany
is not representative of the hu-
manitarian and cultural life of
that great nation. Protests from
German-American groups will no
doubt continue now to accumulate,
for they are one of the most effec-
tive ways possible to transmit to the
German people knowledge of what
is happening in America.
incidentally, Americans who are
enraged over Nazi behavior might
do we'll not to jump to the conclu-
sion that Americans with German
names have the slightest sympathy
with anti-Semitism or anti-Cathol-
icism, or with Fascist actions. While
it is true that the Nazi government
has made some inroadS in lining up
some pro-Fascist sentiment here and
there among Germans in the United
States, the movement is relatively
small and it is another sign of the
ineptitude of the Nazi government
that it thinks Americans of German
parentage or birth favor any system
Of government which destroys free
dom.
Americans of German parentage
have played great part in the life
of the United States, and long before
there was any racial or religious
question those who fled from politi-
ical persecution in Germany were
given a place of refuge in this
country. 1t is rather amusing to
note the argument of some of the
German newspapers that Americans
should not intrude in strictly Ger
man affairs. when only two months
ago the Nazis were beating their
own breasts furiously with exhorta-
tions about the poor minorities
inside Czechoslovakia who, it was
charged, were being mistreated.
Right to Sympathize.
Both the Catholics and the Jews
are minorities in Germany. Ameri-
cans have right to express SYM
pathy with them, just as the Nazis
claimed the right to sympathize with
the Germans living within the