Germans?

Must We Hate

The Lessons of History

Letter to the Editor KEEP your news review going; it is a clear and concise summary and much appreciated.

I cannot say the same of your edi torial for September—l am afraid you are an idealist who does not know his Germans. To call Clemenceau. Lloyd George, Billy Hughes, etc., a lot of mad headed politicians who are responsible for the Hitler monstrosity, which is in turn responsible for this war, is, in my opin ion, far from correct.

If Clemenceau and Co. erred at Ver sailles in 1919, it was because they were too lenient with Germany. The politicians who followed them made a frightful mis take in not seeing that the Versailles Treaty was strictly adhered to.

The Germans of to-day are every bit as arrogant and bombastic as the Ger mans of 1914, and it does not matter one iota to them whether they have a Kaiser Wilhelm or an Adolf Hitler to head them, as long as they have some one at the head who will rattle a sabre.

I wonder what Allied politicians you hold responsible for the war of 19149 If Allied treaty-makers of Versailles are responsible for this war, and not the Germans, then the Germans could no more be held guilty for the 1914 war than the 1939.

I will not go as far as saying that the only good German is a dead Ger man, but I do sincerely hope that when we win this war the whole of our treaty makers will be men of Clemenceau’s type and those who take their places, when they pass on, of the same type, for there is only one way to get peace in Europe, and anywhere else on earth, and that is to strip Germany of army, navy and air force for ever.

It is the duty of all civilised coun tries to see that the German race, which is solely responsible for the horrors of

1914-18, and of this war also, is put and kept in such a position that these things will never happen again.

This is a country of free speech (with reservations) and you have had your say in the September editorial (and be fore). so I would be grateful if you would publish this letter in the ‘‘P.I.M ”, as I am sure that there are many regular "PI.M.” subscribers, who, like myself, hold these views—and disagree with yours.

I am, etc.,

Misima, Papua,

25 10/’39.

EDITORIAL NOTE; We publish the letter, as requested; but we suggest that while British people feel this way about Germans, we shall have wars, and more wars. This writer, in his day, has met as many sabre-rattling, heel-clicking Prussians as his stomach can stand; but also, in many countries, he has met fine types of non-Prussian Germans, whom he learned to esteem and respect. Very many of the best British citizens in North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Territories are of Ger man pfoneer stock. The greatest tragedy of the twentieth century—and the most dismal reflection upon its statesmanship —is that British and Germans should be fighting each other.

Rev. L. and Mrs. Stibbard, of the Melanesian Mission, Maravovo, 8.5.1., are at present on furlough in Sydney.