Evening star., 1939-01-29

He represents the younger genera
tion-the pugnacious youths who CLUB
bed together in nationalistic "bunds" in
the '20s before they were drawn into the
Hitler movement.
Whether he spoke authoritatively or
was indulging merely in wishful think
ing makes little difference The fact is
that on many an occasion his views
startling at the time-reflected what
was being carefully prepared in highest
circles.
Conversation Recorded.
1t may, therefore, be Illuminating to
the American reader to record the con-
versation between this aggressive ex-
ponent of the younger National So
cialist following of Adolf Hitler and two
members of the Berlin staff of the Asso-
ciated Press.
1t started over a casual question
whether the annexation of Menel was
still contemplated now that the Lithu-
anians are making every concession Of
autonomy that the Memellanders de-
mand.
(Memel, territory of 1899
square miles with population of
1880, was detached from Ger
many by the Versailles treaty. At
first it was placed under control
of committee of the allies, but
was handed over to Lithuania on
February 16, 1923. According to
tho Maroo1 Copvorfioy, pr t,1fo
the territory, including the busy
port of Memel, constituted a unit
under Lithuanian sovereignty
but with large measure of local
autonomy. The convention was
signed May 8, 1924, between Lithu-
ania on one side and Great Brit
ain, France, Italy and Japan on
the other)
"Of course, we want Memel, and Lithu-
ania, too." the editor replied without a
moments hesitation. I'VE have never
made any secret of that"
Memel Statute Fulfilled.
But the Lithuanians are now full
filling the terms of the Memel statute
to the letter." his opposite numbers in
terposed.
'Memel statute?" was the reply. "Of
what concern is the Memel statute to
us? We never signed it. We were not
consulted about it. lot doesn't exist for
us. 1t concerns solely the Lithuanians
and the great powers that guaranteed
it,
But during the recent campaign for
the Memel Landtag the demands of the
Memellanders centered about the carry
Ing out of the Memel statute" he was
reminded.
With derogatory gesture the editor
swept this remark aside as he continued: !:
Before elections things always look
different. Besides, the statute doesn't
concern the Memellanders either. They
weren't asked about it when it became
effective"
Exercise Right of Strong"
But by what right do you claim
Lithuanian"
by the right Of the strong and the
able," was the editors self-confident re-
ply as his jaw snapped determinedly.
Germany in the past has always ruled
Europe, except only for brief period.
She now has the right to do so again.
Even when there were two Germanys
the Deutsches Reich and the Austro-
hungarian Empire-it was in fact Ger
many ruling Europe. The Czechs, the
Croatians, the Hungarians, the Bosnians,
the Slovaks, the Ruthenians-all were
ruled by the German element.
"And it is the duty OF every German,
wherever he may be, to make the other
peoples play according to the German
fiddle"
The two Americans pointed out how
difficult, 1t was under these circum-
stances for foreigners to believe the ad-
monition to the Germans outside OF the
Reich, as proclaimed year in and year
out by the federation. of Germans hv-
ing abroad, to be loyal citizens OF the
State in which they happen to i've,