Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-31
Replies to Mai. Eliot

To the Editor Of The Star:
In . recent issue of The Star, Mai.
George Fielding Eliot spoke out in no
uncertain terms against the German
people: He disclosed himself as an
apostle Of hate. An energetic protest
Is therefore in order.
As an American citizen of Austrian
descent who loves and appreciates
America, I never have had sympathy
for the Nazis. detested the entire
gang. But to condemn the entire Ger
man people and to dedicate" to them
scraps" from the table Mai. Eliot's
words)--if there are scraps left-(as he
wrote) is unworthy.
The major attempts to influence
American opinion. 1t appears that he
does not know that his writings are
un-Christian. Does he believe for a
moment that the German people were
told at any time what the Nazis in
tended to do with the Jewish and
Christian civilians In concentration
camps? Read testimony at Nuern-
berg) Does he not know that Hitler,
the maniac, and his gangsters lied to
the German people consistently from
November, 1923. onward?
These people were helpless. How
could It be much different? After the
collapse OF the monarchy in 1918, the
Germans trusted President Wilson who
promised them benefits under a demo-
cratic self-rule system. His IA points
were hopefully acclaimed in Germany
and the people expected democracy in
its best form. But nobody bothered
about this cardinal need in. Europe's
capitals.
Fortunately, our soldiers who are
returning from the battleields have
had plenty of opportunity to learn
from personal contacts with Germans
that there is line between them and
the followers of the Nazi doctrines.
To blame the German people for the
sins OF their oppressors-NaAa and nom
Mails not only unjust but cruel 1t
is un-Christian. Maj. Eliot had nothing
to say about the fate of the hundreds
OF thousands Of the aged, the women
and children TALL noncombatants) who
were bombed to death in and around
Dresden and elsewhere after the fight
ing morale Of the German soldiers had
entirely or almost entirely vanished,
These poor people were not the ones
who "fattened" on the rest Of Europe.
Running Germany by accelerating
"Panslavic hegemony" in Europe is not
the right way to rebuild Europe and its
institutions. Every unbiased economist
and historian knows this. That is only
one reason why farsighted Americans,
Britishers and others are trying to
help the German people as they help
other destitute Europeans. Aside from
Christian teachings, 1t is to our own
interest to show the Germans not only
their mistakes and shortcomings (they
are no better and no worse than the
rest of us) but to re-establish their
belief in God and justice by acting
fairly and justly ourselves.
Americans were always liked in Ger
many but Maj. Eliot apparently does
not know this. Does he know that hate
creates hate?
There should have been hundreds Of
protests from people of German descent
against Maj. Eliot's and other unjust
concentrations but the sad fact is that
Germans always have to take the blame
for everything which goes wrong in in
ternational politics, ETC., because they
are politically inferior minded.
Our history books should contain
the full truth so that our soldiers need
not have to correct them every rs
years by force, paying with their blood.
Hate apostles should study more un-
biased history.
Let us help all destitute Europeans,
Germans included, and show them all
what genuine democracy is.
GERMAN LUTHERAN: H. r.