Evening star., 1939-05-24
Believes World Opinion
Underestimutes Hitler
improvement in Germony's
Economic Position Held
Remarkable

Remarkable
To the Editor Of The Star:
What manner of man is Adolf Hitler?
BY what criterion shall we appraise him?
What are the causes and effects of his
present policy Of peaceful aggression?
To many he is the epitome Of all that
| Is blasphemous, monstrous and abys-
NAL megalomaniac of diabolical in
genuity. marshaling the forces of fear
and hatred; sowing the seeds of discord
and suspicion in order to realize his un-
holy ambition of world domination. This
scathing indictment, on the other hand.
Is offset by rapidly gaining conviction
that the ebony-painted dictator is grad
ually assuming a paler complexion as
the light of knowledge permeates the
vague mist of the past.
To other millions, this man is the
spirit incarnate of Prometheus, svm-
bolic OF fire and life-earnestly seeking
metamorphosis of cultural and eco
nomic rehabilitation not only of his own
people, who, but short time ago, suf-
fered the thralldoms of intense humilia-
ton and despair, but also of those popu-
lations contiguous to or otherwise bound
by ties of consanguinity, who intutively
sense the time as opportune to hitch
their wagon to the meteoric star of
Hitler.
We are in too close proximity to pre-
sent events to arrive at an, true ANALYSIS
too impressionable of racial. geo.
graphic, political and economic influences
to render unbiased judgment on the
man or the doctrines he represents.
In Germany proper, the great majority
of its citizens unquestionably hold Hitler
and all he represents, in the highest
esteem He is their guiding genius-the
perpetuator and protector of Germanic
Kultur. Truly. Hitler is Germany.
Let us void our minds, for the present.
OF all pending international complica- =
tions as they relate to the world outside
the Teutonic sphere of influence. and ap-
ply the fundamental principles of sound
logic insofar as they affect the cultural.
economic and political existence of the
German people, dating from the World
War armistice to the beginning of the
European crises
AS an aftermath of the World War and
the Infamous Versailles Treaty (subse-
quently relegated to that innocuous
desuetude 1t so richly deserved), Ger
many was deprived of a considerable Dor
ton OF her territories in Eastern Europe
and practically all of her Colonial pos
sessions and committed to the payment
OF onerous monetary annuities (Which
she could not possibly FULFILL that would
have virtually condemned her to q status
OF economic slavery for generations to
come
Taking liberties with that old maxim
that comparisons are odious," am 60
ing to deviate, for the nonce, from my
original intention of excluding from my
text, any controversial material relative
to comparative economic and political
values, not in accordance with the rec
ognized proprieties
Germany. with recently swollen pop
ulation of 10000 900 souls. crowded into
an intensively cultivated area that could
comfortable fit into the State of Texas,
has per capita land apportionment of
approximately l40 to the square mile,
and is severely limited as to natural re-
sources. The vital need for those raw
materials so essential to the mainte-
nance OF her economic stability is a
pressing one. Lacking the conventional
exchange prerequisites ordinarily rec
ognized in the establishment of interna-
tional commercial relationships, she has
evolved more complicated modus oper-
andi commonly termed barter" which
is meeting with surprising measure of
success, bearing in mind, of course, that
the nations involved in the transaction
always more or less have been dependent
upon German commercial DEVELOPMENT
for the success of their own markets.
Since the Inauguration of this system
Of financial manipulation, Germany has
undeniably encroached upon certain
trade spheres formerly dominated by
other nations. The ensuing bitterness
is the real cause for the alarm and
tension existing today, beside which all
other motives pale into insignificance.
Economic reprisals such as boycotts,
sanctions kted tariffs, ETC., will not only
not solve this problem, but rather serve
to aggravate an already explosive situa-
ton. The democracies must recognize
as imperative the necessity of effecting
some sort of commercial relationship
with Germany-even under unilateral
conditions. Their sources of raw ma
terials must be opened to Germany in
exchange for the only commodities that
the latter can offer-manufactured
products.
AS result of the timely bolstering
of the German financial structure, the
internal transition from q state of indi-
gence to one of comparative economic
stability in so short time is nothing
short of miraculous. The primary pre-
requisites of civilized habitation, en-
ployment, shelter, food, ETC., have been
achieved under such adverse conditions
as would have broken the morale of a
less hardy people. Unemployment has
been practically eliminated. Housing is
very satisfactory, as is sanitation. Food,
while not plentiful or luxurious, is whole
some and sustaining. Health and recrea-
ton are organized on a statewide basis
and the esprit de corps Of the nation is
on high plane.
On the whole, Hitler has given to
Germany measure Of internal stability
that will merit emulation by some of his
more fortunately situated contempo-
rarieS.