GERMAN PEOPLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20125, 20 December 1939, Page 10

GERMAN PEOPLE

WEAKNESS IN CHARACTER

HUNGRY FOR NEWS

Despite the fact that Britain and Germany are at war, Miss Ruth Lush, of Invercargill, who has returned home after spending seven months in Berlin and other parts of Germany cherishes a deep regard for the German people, who, she declares, are kindly, hospitable and progressive. The weakness in their character lay, perhaps, m the fact that they had all their thinking done for them, and had- become subject to the military machine which was in the hands of their leaders. “People in Germany were very confused about Britain’s reasons for giving support to Poland.” Miss Lush srid, “and generally attributed it to Britain’s so-called policy of encirclement. When I explained that Poland might easily be a victim of aggression, the only -eply was that the Czechs had ‘asked’ to be included in the German Reich. I formed a strong impression that the best propaganda n Germany could have bien carried out by tourists from the British Empire simply by discussing outside affairs with their German hosts and answeri ag their questions. The Germans are very hungry for news.

“The leaflet raids, I am sure, will have a good effect, for, even though the German people arc forbidden to pick them up, thousands most have fallen in backyards and other private places, and under hedges, where they will be picked up for months and perhaps even years to come.