BLIND FAITH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 11

BLIND FAITH

GERMAN PEOPLE BELIEF IN HITLER CRITICISM DANGEROUS TOURIST’S IMPRESSIONS “The German people appear to approve of tne Nazi ruling and seem prepared to follow Herr Hitler blindly," stated Mr. H. M’Quillan, of Gore, in giving some of his impressions of Germany in an interview with the Southland Times. Mr. M'Quillant who has just returned from a seven months’ trio abroad, during, which he visited England, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium, is a nephew of Mr. R. Preston, Mangapapa.

Mr. M'Quillan arrived in Germany about the end of June, and he said that there seemed to be a different atmosphere as soon as he crossed the border. One could hardly credit the change from the freedom of France. In Germany there was military discipline everywhere. To discuss Herr Hitler was not safe, and the minute the Fuehrer’s name was mentioned the people "closed” up. They spoke in one voice about Herr Hitler, saying that all he wanted was the return of all German-speaking people to Germany and a fair share of the colonies. Then he would be satisfied, they said.

"Their reply to my question, ‘Why did Germany take Czechoslovakia? was that the Czechs were a cruel people and it was not safe to have them on the border of Germany,” said Mr. M'Quillan. “They believed that, and when I tald them that thej were not getting the truth I was advised to get out of Germany or 1 would be arrested for talking that way. When in Germany you are not permitted to criticise the German people or Herr Hitler. If you go with them and think along their lines they will give you a great time, but the minute you attempt to criticise them or Herr Hitler you are told that ii would be advisable for you to leave the country.” >■ Departure From Germany Mr. M'Quillan said that he and his friends, Messrs. A. Herron, Pukerau, and T. Pollock, Waipounamu, who were with him in Germany, had been told it would be advisable for them to leave if they continued t 0 discuss Herr Hitler and the Nazi ruling.

"We were staying at an inn in Bin-gen-Amrhine when this occurred,” said Mr. M'Quillan, "and the place was crowded with soldiers and civilians. Early the next morning I heard a noise outside my window, and on looking out I saw German soldiers, who had been drinking Rhine wine by the look of them, and one of them was swinging a sword above his head. I was not sure whether or not he was looking at me, but I let the curtains fall back very gently and got back into bed.

“The next day we crossed the border into Belgium, aricl it' was like leaving a great weight behind. In Belgium the people were not frightened t 0 talk, and the freedom of the country was wonderful after our experiences in Germany.”

When asked their opinion of the English the German people would not let themselves "go,” said Mr. M'Quillan. They considered the English to be land grabbers, ails’ said that England had taken Germany’s cblonies by grabbing. Tn Mr. M'Quillan's opinion Germany had enough food to last her for a number of years. There was no shortage while he was there, land there had been an abundance of cattle and sheep. He had also seen wonderful crops during his stay in the country.