NAZI POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1940, Page 7

NAZI POLICY

GOERING’S GROWING POWER OPPOSITION TO FRIENDSHIP WITH RUSSIA. FIGHT AMONG PARTY'S LEADERS. While in Moscow the Nazi Foreign Minister. Ribbentrop, abandoned not only Finland, but also Norway, to Stalin, declares "A correspondent in Berlin.” in an article published in “The Spectator” recently. Stalin, he says, was to secure the Norwegian sea-coast by the Finnish frontier, and Spitzbergen, so as to give Russia a sea-base oil, the Atlantic .

The correspondent makes these statements in discussing what he describes as the growing influence and power of Goering. Among the higher leaders of the party tremendous fights are going on. which are directed mainly againsl Ribbentrop, Goebbels and Himmler. These struggles are directed by Goering. who enjoys the support inside the party of Rudolf Hess, the Fuehrer’s deputy. Reich Minister of the Interior, Frick, and others. The majority of the generals, too, stand behind Goering, who has won over the leaders of industry and finance and the intelligentsia. Since Goering is also the most popular Nazi leader among the masses, he is considered in all these circles as the man who alone can unite the German people. He also has sufficient force of character not to hesitate before any decision or responsibility, and can, therefore see to it that internal reforms arc brought about, and the abuses of the system removed. It is an interesting fact that in Berlin political circles today the main question is not what Hitler will do, but primarily what Goering wants, and whether he can succeed. Everywhere it is considered important to be on good terms with Goering, and an- attempt is made to support him in his efforts to win the really dominant influence in foreign and home politics, since he has become the sole dictator of Germany in the economic sphere.

OPPOSES RUSSIAN FRIENDSHIP. What does Goering want now? In foreign/ policy he stands 'for a revitalising of the German-Italy policy and is opposed to the German-Russian friendship policy of Ribbentrop. The illusions of Hitler's Foreign Minister both as to the striking power of the Russian Army and to Russian economic help have been destroyed even in Germany by the events of the last few months. The sacrifice of Finland to Soviet Russia was reached by Ribbentrop during his Moscow conversations and occurred without consultations with the military or naval chiefs or even with Goering. Only Hitler knew of it. Goering has never forgiven the Foreign Minister for this, and since then has been his open and most dangerous enemy. Goering is working for Ribbentrop's fall from power. This enmity is further strengthened by the fact that Ribbentrop, it has now become known, while in Moscow, abandoned not only Finland, but also Norway to Stalin, in return for corresponding Soviet guarantees in South-East Europe and support against Britain. In North Europe. Ribbentrop earmarked only Denmark and Sweden as exclusive German spheres of influence. Ribbentrop has assured German support for these aims of Stalin, i.e., to secure the Norwegian sea-coast by the Finnish frontier, and Spitzbergen, so as to give Russia a sea-base on the Atlantic Ocean, because he aims at overthrowing British world domination, with Russia’s help. This fact is only now made known, and only through an interesting Press campaign in the “Nachtausgabe” (afternoon paper in Berlin), in which Dr Kreigh, on Goering’s orders, has brought this struggle behind the scenes into the light of day. Ribbentrop was furious about it. Goebbels denied it. but Goering had succeeded in letting the Ribbentrop-Stalin plans be known both at home and abroad.

Goering, in the struggle against England, wants above all to make sure of having Italian help and support, and represents the opinion that Germany has to choose now between Italy and Russia: there is only an "either . . or" in this, and no “and also.” He is further convinced that his efforts to use Hungary and the Balkan countries more and more for the German war economy can only succeed if Italy supports them, and Herr von Clodius recently went from Bucharest to Rome, after having received from Goering personally very definite and far-reach-ing instructions before leaving Berlin. It is, moreover, not without interest that a special emissary from Goering was latterly in Italy, Prince Philip of Hesse. What Prince Philip, who. as is known, is a son-in-law of the Italian King, discussed in Italy has not become known. INTERNAL STRUGGLE.

In home politics, it is now being said of Goering that he wants to remove Goebbels, Himmler and Heydrich, and to settle the Church question. Goering and Goebbels, are old enemies, and the enmity of Goering toward Himmler and Heydrich is to be found less in the fact that Goering is an opponent of the brutal Gestapo methods than that he sees danger for himself and his political plans in the increasing power of Himmler, who. after Hitler himself (leaving the army aside), is the most powerful man in the Reich. Just as Goering on June 30, 1934. with the help of the' Army, brutally destroyed the power of the S.A. and of its leaden Roehm, so he now plans the removal of Himmler, because he stands in his way. A stroke against this, the most hated man in Germany, would not only increase Goering's popularity with the masses, but also with the officer coips. Himmler and Heydrich, since the Gestapo's outrageous treatment of the Poles and Jews, which was even worse than the most horrible methods of the G.P.U.. are being systematically boycotted by the officer corps. There is only an official contact with them and they avoid every social and private intercourse.

Since it is known that Goering has often appealed for the release of Pastor Nicmollcr from the Saschsenhausen Concentration Camp, that he was against the terrible Jewish pogrom o 1 November 9-10. 1938. and that he deposed the infamous Julius Streicher at the beginning of the war. it is hoped that he may be able to do much in the Church struggle and in the Jewish question. The aim of Goering is to become German Reichskanzler with the help of the Army, and to have dietutorial powers, not only in economic but also in the entire foreign policy of the Reich. Hitler under such conditions would become simply the titulary head of the State. Towards Hitler himself Goering has shown absolute loyally, thus giving no cause for anxiety.’ and offering his opponents no scope for suspicion.