One of the means by which it is thought a termination will be put to the present European war is alleged to be another revol lution within Germany, and the question which really matters in this connection is exactly how strong is Herr Hitler's grip onthe People he has subjugated. It is apparent from manifold signs that he is fighting this war upon two fronts, the external and also the internal, and reports have already come fo hand suggesting that the employment of considerable force is required to male sure that dissident areas. shall be kept under complete control. Thus the employment of 60,000 men in Vienna, to make sure that the former Austrian capital behaves itself, is ample proof that the territories Herr Hitler has grabbed for the Reich are at a time such as this more of a liability than an asset, But whit of the Germans themselves? Despite the enormous success of the Nazis in various plebiscites,—so arranged that very few People dared vote against them,—there is, Plenty of evidence available to indicate that all is not well within Germany itself, and that the leaven of unrest is working and, may sooner or later, it is hoped sooner, bring its Influence to bear upon the fate of the people. The very first piece of evidence which comes to hand is to be found in the various repressive measures which have been Inttoduced, providing for the application of the death penalty in cases where such a punlshment, would to ordinary people be unthinkable, 'Thus the provision that Germans caught listening to foreign broadcasts shall suffer the supreme penalty is proof that the German Government is fully' aware that many of them do indulge in that practice, and is determined to do its utmost to fall them in their search for truth. It is Jaxiomatic that legislation is designed to cure an existing state of affairs, is never anticipatory, and it may reasonably be assumed that' there are amongst the Germans large numbers "who regard the. mental pabulum dished out by the German Minist of Propaganda with very considerable suspicion, if not complete distrust.
Most illuminating on the subject is Fritz Max Cohen, German journalist, who as assistant to' Count Brockdorft-Rantzau went with him to receive the Allied peace terms at Versailles. In his book "Men Against Hitlee" he tells how he organized a countermovement against Nazi-ism, called the "German Vanguard" which he' formed in 1932 and which has continued its activities ever since. Herr Cohen writes "Today it is no exaggeration to say that inside Germany at least 50 per cent. of the population is in complete disaccord with nearly everything for which Hitler stands. At least another 20 per cent. is against Hitler's methods without being completely opposed to certain results achieved by his policy. The remaining 30 per cent, is Nazi, but even these do not form a complete unit. Amongst them are many who reproach Hitler for breaking his promises." Put in another way something under 30 per cent. of the total Population of Germany is unreservedly in Support of all that Hitler stands for, the balance, in varying degrees from complete Opposition to partial acceptance of results while disapproving of policy, are opposed to him. It is these people who have been dragged into war against their will, and on Herr Cahen's showing it is the Nazi tail which is wagging the German dog. The dos, is Being under-nourished by a. rationing \system more applicable to the closing phases a huge struggle than its commencement, is being subjected to all manner of repres~ sion against which it is but human nature irk, and at the same time is being oxpected by Herr Hitler and his satellites 10 engage enthusiastically in a war which is not of its seeking. It is a significant fact that in all the despatches which have come from Germany since the outbreak of the war, no mention has been made 6f any such demonstrations of enthusiasm as those which marked German reactions to war in August a quarter of a century ago. This is not a ease of a politically united people fighting war which they are convinced is just, but of a country dragged into a struggle completely against the desires of the majority Of its people, and consequently a thoroughly unpopular one.
That the government of the Reich itself realizes, for why else should it forbid the display of mourning by the relatives of those who give up their lives in this senso-less struggle. Why is there any such prohibition unless it is dictated by fear that all too quickly the masses will be brought to a realization of the frightful price they are again being called upon to pay in order to satisfy the contorted ambitions of evil minds? The only question in this connection is as to how long the German people will continue to suffer thus blindly, how long it will be before rising in their wrath they send Herr Hitler and his accomplices about their business, and establish a sober, middle class and pacific Republican Germany. That is the ambition of such men as Herr Cohen, but the fact has to be faced that, if revolution should come, that might not be the Issue. It is possible that Stalin in entering the non-aggression pact with the Reich may be dealing Herr "Hitler the dirtiest of blows: If by doing so he has encouraged another revolution may see Germany go completely Communist, a danger which Herr
world may see the further advance of international communism at the expense of the German people. That the possibility of a revolution in Germany is more in the nature of a probability may be accepted without any display of undue optimism, The only possible chance of Herr Hitler retaining control of the country is for him to gain such stiecesses as will serve to placate some of his orities, and generally ull the nation into a state of contentment. His chances of doing so are extremely thin. With all the overwhelming force which he has thrown into Poland he Is alleged alrendy to be behind his timetable, and' now is meeting with the sternest resistance from the gallant Polish army. The hysterical claim to vic~ tories before they have been gained is in-die alive of the burning desire to confront the German people with achievements, Warsaw has not been captured, and so far ax German domestic considerations of publicity are concerned cannot be captured again, The chances of revolution, therefore, are not lightly to be disregarded. Should it come it may be attended with the grave peril that Germany's second state may be very much worse than ils first, but if this happens it Will be solely because Herr Hitler has not yet learned, what Lincoln $0. thoroughly' realized that, while it may be possible to fool all people some of the time, and some people all of the time, it is not possible to fool all people all the time.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.