ANTAGONISM TO BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 12

ANTAGONISM TO BRITAIN

OFFICIALS IN BERLIN GERMAN EXPERIENCES OF AUSTRALIAN BRITAIN WILL NEED EVERY EFFORT “ When 1 was in Berlin seven weeks ago, I was conscious of an atmosphere of strain, and of a definite antagonism among officials to all things British ” said the former Minister for Health, Mr FitzSimons, • M.L.A., when he returned to Sydney recently from a world tour. He said that he had the chance of discussing matters generally with German doctors. He said that when he told them of opinion in the British Empire, and of the preparations that were being made by Britain, they were amazed. “ 1 found that the ordinary German people were completely ignorant of world affairs and of world opinion. But when I mixed among officials, I had a strong feeling that there would be trouble.. The invasion of Poland did not surprise me. “ German officials told me that, frankly, the individual in Germany today did not count, but that the State was everything. The individual, they said, must be subservient to the die-, tates of the State. Such an_ outlook is exceedingly repulsive to British democratic ideals, and it is impossible for us to accept such ideals in any shape or form.”

While abroad, Mr FitzSimons investigated the latest developments in hospital administration and medical practice. “ Personally, I received every help and courtesy in my investigations,” he said, 11 but I saw many things that disturbed me. I found that every two of three Germans were in some kind of uniform.

‘‘What I saw convinced me that it will require every effort of the British Empire and of her allies to destroy this Nazi menace. There must be complete unity of effort, combined with the full mobilisation of Empire resources if we are to win.

Mr FitzSimons said he had been amazed to find in Germany that doctors, men of intelligence in any country, seemed to be completely unaware of world opinion on Nazi policy, and knew nothing about the preparedness and the rearmament going on in Great Britain.

“ The calmness and the courage of the British people are amazing,” he continued. “ I consider that events will show rapidly the strength of Britain.”

He had found no one in Germany prepared to discuss the German Government. The only expression of opinion was that everyone must trust Hitler. He was the supreme authority in Germany.

“ I visited a youth camp 30 miles from Berlin, and I saw there hundreds of youths, aged from_ 10_ to 17 years, in training,” Mr FitzSimons added. “I was not impressed with their physique as compared with the physique of Australians. I found this camp and other youth camps were run on military lines. 'Boys of 10 were being taught to become soldiers.”