Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1943. THE DOOM OF GANGSTERDOM.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1943. THE DOOM OF GANGSTERDOM.

QQME observers in London, according to a cablegram, find in the announcement of a conference between Hitler and leading members of te Nazi Party and of the German High Command reason for believing that'llitler is losing his influence over his army and political leaders. In view of the extent to which the intuitions of the Fuehrer have gone wrong and of the dark and menacing outlook that has opened for the Germans, not only in Russia but in every theatre of war, it is likely enough that his gangster associates, military and political, would very gladly be rid of him. Whether they dare dispose of him by their accustomed method of murder or in some other way is another question.

One thing that is likely to weigh heavily with all the leadcis of Nazi gangsterdom at the moment is the need of preserving an appearance of solidarity and confidence even though the reality has gone with the wind. A dissolution of their power and plunder regime in which they would, all alike be oxeiwhelmed assuredly would not be to their liking. When Germany was ■winning easy victories over weak or unprepaied nations, the generals on whim Hitler had at an earliei stage fawned’ became with others his obedient servants. That the generals are now again asserting themselves against Hitler is made highly probable by the present course of military events. It has to be remembered, however, that it was not meiely bj personal prestige, but by the development oi an elaboiate and powerful organisation that Hitler fastened his grip on the Geinian Armv and its leaders, as on the German nation.

Whether the German generals are asserting themselves against Hitler may be less important at the moment than whether these generals can see any prospect of challenging, successfully and with advantage to themselves, the iron contiol the Gestapo, headed by the notorious Himmler, has fastened on the German’Army as well as the German people. Morally, there is no distinction whatever to be drawn between Hitler and the actual military leaders of the German Army. They are accomplices in crime.

If the generals take over authority nothing.else is to be expected than that they will pursue the same aims as Hitler and will concentrate on spinning out the war in the hope of compelling or inducing the Allies to accept inconclusive peace terms. It is noteworthy that the conference between Hitler and party and army leaders was followed closely by another at which one of Himmler’s henccmen, Dr Hugo Thierack, the Reich Minister of Justice, “addressed the Nazi law chiefs, including* the presidents of the highest courts, on the importance of the administration of the law for morale and the maintenance of the home front in total war.” /

Recently one of Germany’s underground stations reported that on his first day in his new office as Minister of the Interior, Himmler conferred with Thierack, “laying the foundation for a fusion of police and jurisdictional affairs” —in other words putting the Gestapo in supreme control over the whole of the so-called administration of justice in Germany. Himmler, it xvas added, wished to eliminate differences between concentration camps and ordinary prisons.

The conclusion seems to be warranted that no change, open or concealed, in the allocation and exercise of ruling power in Germany will be of any importance from the standpoint ol the United Nations unless it works out in confusion and collapse —- above all in the collapse of the infamous Gestapo. The only internal development in Germany that could materially alter the existing situation would be a genuine revolt of the German people, sweeping away in common ruin Hitler and his party accomplices, the Gestapo and the representatives ol: Prussian militarism. Of such a revolt there is as yet no sign, and it is very definitely upon the overwhelming military defeat of Germany that the United Nations must depend for the opportunity of re-establishing world peace on secure foundations.