To the Editor of the '"NowrH-Catka Datty News."
Sim—I carefully read the letter] in your newspaper about Armistice Day—Observance Day. 1 am one of the "other side," a German, and not of the wstionalistic si Te was here in Shanghai some years ago that I heard something about the celebration of the Armistice Day for the first time when, on Armistice Day I happened to attend a service in* some of Stanghai's churches. Even within this surrounding and during a sermon not hurting at all the former "enemy" I felt a bitter grief and deep sorrow for my own countrymen, and a strong antipathy against attending again any cele bration reminding me of that day when the civilized slavery began Hor my people.
Forget the past. Yes, all of us Germans would like to' forget if the terrible present would not fall would do everything to do away fall that reminds us of that past. As long as the past throws its deep shadows to the present. I doubt whether any German" whatever party he may belong to will not have a feeling of bitter grief on the Lith November, Also my country has a "Volkstrauertag" (mourning day of the ation for those who died during the World War). The feelings and customs of the motherlands and their remembrances predominate in the communities abroad of every nation. Thus Armistice Day is for the Germans nota "Volkstrauertag" but a reminder of the victory of the former enemies and of all that followed. And in the spirit of a victory Armistice Day. was cclebrated in the other countries, and Will be celebrated in the future, deeply appreciate and support the spirit for civilised" humanity, for cooperation of European states, "but I think it is not the clit way and at least not the Tight day on Armistice Day for a celebration in Shanghai of feelings different from that "in the ious countries at home. Armistice Day will always be a sad day for a German, also. abroad. Perhaps later on when equ equal rights" for ni when all abandoned the spirit of egotism for better welfare on the account and by oppression of other nations—when that European paradise will have been established any of the three ideas: capitalism, socialism or communism, then may be the time for all to celebrate the 1 1th November the day ending would be to abolish all those cele best thing in my opinion brations in all countries that may hurt the feelings of some other nation.
And now another idea of "socialist cally curious" heart. Let be open-minded, frank and trae to ourselves. Are those days really held only for the dead or for the living ones?" Tes "not easy. to examine and to know ourselves especially in such' cases when highly. "appreciable fee mingled with so, much else Those mlllioss of dead men of all nations are staying outside. of their graves still to-day imploring the living ones to learn from the cruel past, to change the mind and heart "not" only outside, not only ith words "and celebrations, but with facts—and. until living ones have failed. Like thy cross of Jesus Christ those millions of crosses are. ignored, forgotten, Perhaps even abused, T sincerely ture there mankind will daily "observe the for and more sincerely than' they challenge of the crossed ones bet-
are doing to-day. Perhaps technique wil support that spiritual challenge forting mankind. to" do. better than they are willing to do to-day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.