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Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1928, Page 2

Since the war wo have heard a good deal about the necessity for the “regeneration” of the German people, and it is possible that wo have under-esti-mated tile importance of the fact that until the recent elections the German people have hardly had a fair chance of expressing their real sentiments in any open way. This much is certain, that the new Government—which is predominantly Socialist in its princip|les—at once promoted a formal protest to the Soviet Republic against the infliction of death sentences in such circumstances as these. The petition is signed by the President of the Reichstag, by cx-Cliancellor Wirtli, and other rdistinguislicd public men, anil it is vigorously supported by the Government paper “Torwnerts.” The veteran Socialist organ expresses horror at “Soviet barbarity,” and calls upon all men to contrast it with “the merciful instincts of German Socialism,” which hopes soon to abolish capital punishment altogether. Of course, behind this is the natural indignation aroused by the abominable treatment which Germans have received in Russia. But we may regard it none tho less ns the genuine utterance of German public feeling, ami we may treat it accordingly. Tlie conviction that tho German people are now for tljo first time finding means to express their own opinions is strengthened by the recent emphatic declarations on public policy by the new Chancellor, Dr Mueller. Addressing the Reichstag last week,-the Chancellor “repudiated the idea of revenge,” asserting Germany’s sincere desire to co-operate honestly with the other nations “for the political and economic consolidation of Europe.” Of course, we have heard this before. But it seems to us that while the Nationalist held power it was difficult to take these assurances seriously, and it is only now, when a Government which professes with some reason to l>e democratic is in office, that we can afford to regard it as an indication of a genuine “change of heart.”