NAZI “EVIDENCE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 6

NAZI “EVIDENCE”

CONVENIENT DOCUMENTS FOUND

MORE GOEBBELS DISCOVERIES.

SOME PROPAGANDA EFFORTS

(By “Knob-Turner.”) Dr. Goebbels has a meritorious passion for legal evidence. So strong in his Nazi soul is this passion that by hook or by crook the evidence must be found. And so, since the war started, the industrious Nazis have been discovering appropriate official documents of an obligingly incriminating type. . , Circumstances of the Nazis own making have worked against Dr. Goebbels in his praiseworthy efforts to convince the world of the authenticity of his discoveries. Under his rule, the Nazi Department of Propaganda, even before any war began, was convicted of some blatant and very clumsy forgeries. The Nazis displayed a remarkable enthusiasm in forging the passports of other countries. Being thorough, they often stole the official notepaper of their neighbours to make their forgeries more convincing. Their first espionage breakdown in the United States was associated with the effort to steal White House official notepaper and United States passport blanks.

When Poland was invaded, the doctor of documents made his first diplomatic coup. From the United States Embassy in battered Warsaw he produced documentary proof that -the United States diplomats in Europe had been working in a conspiracy to induce Poland and other nations to invade innocent, peace-loving Germany. The Americans gasped and then laugherwhile Mi- Cordell Hull dismissed life ‘‘discoveries” with a few blunt words.' Undismayed by this lack of appreciation, Dr. Goebbels tried again. When the Nazi troops invaded Norway they discovered on a small railway station documents which a British officer had obligingly left there. These documents, by the doctor’s prophetic soul, proved that before the Germans landed the British had prepared an invasion. Thus Hitler’s suborning of Quisling and the despatch of troops was completely justified. But this evidence was greeted with nothing more than cheery, incredulous smiles. When Holland was invaded, the documents were again found, this time in a consulate, proving once more that Hitler had moved only just in time to forestall a British invasion. This third happy cache of official secrets was received, especially in the United States, with shouts of joy. There' was general regret that the Nobel prizes did not include one for humour so that the doctor’s feats could be suitably rewarded.

But he is not deterred by the lack of academic recognition. With the invasion of Yugoslavia the documents have turned up again. This time in France. The German announcement of the doctor's feat runs:

“Documents found in France categorically showed how Yugoslavia since the outbreak of war endeavoured to help England and France, Although Germany had knowledge of these events, with unprecedented magnaminity and patience, she continued her policy of understanding, still hoping to bring Yugoslav policy back to the path of reason —an’understanding with the Axis." The 8.8. C. revealed that other documents found in France by the doctor’s agents showed that naughty Greece was the cause of all the trouble in the Balkans. Adolf Hitler guaranteed that repetition would cause any lie to be accepted. Faithful to routine, Dr. Goebbels has accepted his master's dictum; but instead of convincing people, he has done no more than add to the gaiety of nations.

Dr. Goebbels, if he lives long enough to read the history now being made, will discover that his long list of convenient discoveries in various countries has failed because it demands acceptance of the theory that the diplomats of other nations strewed incriminating documents all over Europe to give the Nazis a joyous paper-chase. Still, the industrious doctor is forging ahead.