Germans Proud of Hitler

As a result of Chancellor Adolf Hitler's Reichstag speech, Germany today is proud of her leader and proud of herself, and the anxiety with which the world listened to that speech merely enhances that pride.

Gone are the days, the press points out, when German envoys had to wait in the antechambers of foreign powers and when German proposals and protests were met with ironic smiles.  When Herr Hitler speaks the world listens, and that in itself is registered as a token of the distance, from armed weakness to world power, that Germany has covered under Chancellor Hitler in six years.

At the same time, official quarters, the press and a good part of the public were also eagerly listening today to the world echo that the speech evoked.

The press, largely because the public likes to that too, puts the main emphasis on how, with his declaration that he believes in a long peace, Herr Hitler confounded "warmongers" and their "war hysteria," and some newspapers already see Herr Hitler as challenging Prime minister Neville Chamberlain's peace laurels.

Despite many breathing a sigh of relief, Herr Hitler has put the problem of colonies at the feet of the world.  This problem may well need to be solved dutifully and soon.

Hitler demands the colonies taken from Germany to be returned.  Despite the assent given by the British on other matters, they refuse on this.

With the rumors that have come out of Germany about their military might and the mechanics, German correspondents seem puzzled by reports from international reporters.

In any case, all German newspapers proceed from the fundamental thesis laid down by Chancellor Hitler that Germany has too little living space, and, therefore, a new division of the world now is in order.

Differences in Demeanor

Never has Berlin seen so many polyglot visitors. Every hotel is crowded beyond normal capacity and all its best known restaurants spend most of the dinner hour turning them away because there are no more seats.

Conversation in Adlon Hall at Tea Hour is reminiscent of Babel, with English running German hard as the predominant tongue and the Polish, Czech and Scandinavian Languages drowning out the customary Continental French.

English beyond doubt if the Latin of the modern world. In the press box at the Olympic Stadium and at most of the information offices more English is spoken than German. Yet in comparison with the crowds of Scandinavians, who make up the largest part of the foreign contingent, relatively few Englishmen or American are here. The Scandinavians, however, seem to get along better in English than anything else.

Scandinavians in the stands have adopted American cheering tactics and shout "Rah! Rah! Rah!" in unison.

Anybody interested in his fellowmen has been able to get a kick out of noting the difference of these foreign visitors. There is a good deal of truth in a familiar story which purports to classify national characteristics under such circumstances.

The Frenchman enters a hotel looking around with a general air indicating he would like to own it.

The German walks in looking as though some day he expects to own it.

The Englishman strolls in as though he does indeed own it.

The American goes in with the general air which seems to say he doesn't give a damn who owns it.