LYING AS POLICY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21248, 19 October 1940, Page 15 (Supplement)

LYING AS POLICY

GERMAN PROPAGANDA GOEBBELS’ FOUL MACHINE CONTEMPT FOR HONESTY (By “Knob-Turner”) Nazi propaganda is not a statement of the “case for Germany,” it is not a German view of war issues, or the war situation “seen through German eyes.” It may be so dressed —the Nazis wish it to appear in this guise. But it is a weapon of war used to defeat and destroy. So anything—true or false—which will discourage. sow dissension, destroy faith in our leaders or separate us from our friends, is ammunition for the machine Dr. Goebbels controls. This war differs from all others because radio provides a swift distribution of the spoken word to the individual in all parts of the world. The Nazis use the radio as one of the most important war weapons. Recognising its effectiveness they provide a death penalty for Germans found listening to British broadcasts. A study of the Nazi technique reveals amazing things and gives an insight into the Nazi mentality. Among these is unfaltering industry and unremitting ingenuity, a fanatical scorn of truth and a righteous attitude when discovered in a lie. “Ice-cold Calculation” Dr. Goebbels ten years ago in his newspaper the Angriff laid down his purpose in clear terms: “To organise hatred and suspicion—all with icecold calculation.” The Nazis are very proud of this glittery pose of frigid execution.

In Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” too, there are indications of the Nazi purpose and method. He repeatedly urges his followers to make statements without any reference to their truth and to make promises they had no intention of fulfilling.

A private citizen following this course would quickly come to ruin, but the Fuhrer advocates its use by the movement because he has such a low opinion of his fellow men. He insists that with a few exceptions all mankind is stupid and cowardly. He wrote in “Mein Kampf”:—“Only a fraction (of men) are energetic and strong-minded . . . the majority are lazy and timid.” Elsewhere he adds his opinions of Germans: “The mass of our nation, that great stupid flock of easily driven sheep” who “believe and obey because they are too stupid to understand.” Here are the principles underlying the German method which is applied with “ice-cold calculation.” “Some Fooled” Associated with lavish bribery they were successful in countries where political fissures went deep and where the Nazis’ complete lack of scruple was not realised. To the credit (or discredit) of the Nazis must be conceded the fact that in all countries some of the pdbple were fooled for some of the tirfie.

Honest people could not understand, their minds simply refused to comprehend, the existence of men ol this stamp in national leadership. They coi.’ld not appreciate the dark significance of a moral cqsle which defined “Right as that which helped the German nation, and Wrong as that which was hurtful to it.” So when Hitler, or any propa-ganda-trained follower, lies or does something which outrages the world’s sense of decency, he is “right” because he conceives it to be “good for the German nation.” When the Fuhrer talks of “keeping his word” he means that he keeps his word to the German nation, though he break his “sacred oath” to others. Even the assurances given to Mussolini are governed by this doctrine. Regarded as Brainstorm Other totalitarian leaders may have appreciated the significance of this code of ethics, but democratic peoples found it so foreign to the standards accepted by the jvorld for century on century that they regarded it as some fantastic brainstorm or an international nightmare. It was inconceivable that the “logical German nation” could accept it. The adoption of it by the bulk of the German people was the first triumph of Dr. Goebbels’ “ice-cold calculation.”

Yet this inception of “right” and “honourable” may defeat the Nazis in the end because it attacks any agreement Germany makes with any other country, friend or foe. The Nazis may dictate terms; they cannot be expected to make a binding agreement. It is obvious, too, that even powerful neutrals and allies must have misgivings. Hitler’s conception of “keeping his word” must linger in the minds of those totalitarian leaders now aligned on his side in conflict. This is what the Goebbels machine has achieved. Between the German radio and the 8.8. C. a vital combat is being waged Dr. Goebbels scorns the old-fashioned distum that “Honesty is the best policy”; the 8.8. C. holds to it.