UNDER FALSE COLORS
UNDER FALSE COLORS An Open Letter to Liberal Members of the "Association for a Democratic Germany" By Gerhart H. Seger and Rudolf Katz THE "Council for a Democrat* Germany'* is a socalled...
...No person of clear-sighted political understanding can have any doubt but that the "Council" belongs to the category of the so-called "front organisations...
...Or, to paraphrase Heinrich Heine's well-known lines: "Blamier mich nicht, mein schfines Kind, Und grusj mich nicht Unter den Linden, Wenn wir dann erst xu Hause sind, Dann wird sich schon alias flnden...
...Nor must it permit discussion about Moscow's openly advocated plans of forced labor for parts of the German population in the Soviet Union after the war's end...
...We are only too glad to welcome such an important enterprise...
...For if we consider the great number of other former officials, professors, clergymen, union leaders, and other leading personalities of the Weimar Republic the proportion becomes of miignifkant dimensions...
...Beth are new American citizens...
...Which, in free English translation, means: "My darling, don't embarrass me...
...But coming from the "Council," such arguments—even when they are correct—must not only remain without any effect, they must also appear highly auspicious to some people...
...Its publications no longer appear under the imprint of the "Council" but rather of the "Association for a Democratic Germany...
...The few exceptions merely confirm the rale...
...play mm important r(Ut "Did you know that, stem* your name, tkt 'united front' cAaractor and the participation of Me Communittt in (Ate group has seen hushed up, and that the 'Council' is falsely eulogized as a Weimar Coalition Group'f Gerhart II Seger...
...Bustamante, a tall, gaunt, shaggy-haired, flint-faced, typical agitator, had spent almost a year and a half behind barbed wire as a labor conspirator too dangerous for the commercial world and colonial administration...
...farmer member of the German Reichstag, and Dr...
...We hold it unthinkable that you would knowlingly contribute in any way to this attempt to falsely inform the broad mass of well-meaning and trusting Americans —who can have but little information about affairs within German political emigre* circles and the conditions in Central Europe—about the true character of this "Council...
...The Communists play a very important role in it It* secretary ia Albert Schreiner, a long time Communist functionary...
...Nothing Is being done with greater vigor In Mexico than the appropriation of new funds, and the creation of new buildings, for advances in education...
...Thus, the "Council" must limit ils political announcements to criticism of the war and peace plans of the western powers...
...The "Council" dare not censure, for instance, Moscow's plans for the Baltic States, Poland, Greece, or Hungary...
...Quite a number of others belong to the "Council" who, between 1919 and 1933, were busily encaged in working toward the violent overthrow of the democratic German Republic...
...the general policy of the "Council" must conform to the policy of the Russian agents., The "Council" fa) obviously incapable of the slightest criticism of Soviet policy or Soviet war and peace aims...
...Today, thin same movement is trying to obstruct the return of Germany to a democratic form of republican government with a new slogan: "Never again Weimar...
...It is not the Republic of Weimar—with her guarantees for fundamental human rights and the four freedoms— but rather the "higher democracy" of the Russian Soviet system which these people see as their political ideal...
...However, we know that such sponsors, busy as they are and living in separated localities, can do little more than lend their names and their prestige...
...A campaign to raise funds for new schools, with mi coming from the 28 states and the Federal Dial from private contribution;, and from funds eam*J • the goverumentally controlled petroleum industry, n . brought in 62,000,000 pesos, or about 110,764,000...
...It must never utter a syllable concerning the "Union of German Officers" in Moscow and the "Free German Committee...
...To prove our point, permit us to quote verbatim from the published memoranda of the "Association" some of the references to the "Council...
...It is at the disposal of the secretary, and of her has band, Karl Frank, alias Willi Mueller, alias Paul Hagen...
...AnY political group that wanU to be effective and taken seriously today in the difficult and delicate terrain of Germany's future must of necessity heed the obligation of truthfulness and complete honesty...
...UNDER FALSE COLORS An Open Letter to Liberal Members of the "Association for a Democratic Germany" By Gerhart H. Seger and Rudolf Katz THE "Council for a Democrat* Germany'* is a socalled "united front" group within German political cenigroe circles...
...The Communists, of coarse, are not "recent converts" to the ideals of democracy I It is evident that this dishonest msnifesto is premediated misleading of the American public...
...There are others—among them the authors—who are often doing the same thing for good and sufficient reasons, as they believe...
...Almost the first thing done by the prisoner after his liberation in February, 1942, however, was to turn against the people's National Party and its progressive leader, Norman W. Manley, despite the letter's long efforts to secure freedom for the imprisoned laborite...
...We are informed— rightly, we believe- that among you there are no Communists, no "fellow-travelers...
...Tbia percentage seems high but it is misleading and should not be used aa a basis for arriving at a final numerical evalution...
...Not one of the many high functionaries of the former German Weimar Republic who were invited to join has accepted...
...Another 30,000,000 pesos, or about $6,210,000, has been contributed by the Federal Government...
...When about a dozen non-Communist (and, now, noninfluential) German saaigrsnti join an organisation in this country with the exponents of as great a world power as Russia, then this alliance, this lopsided coalition, can hare only one result...
...Therefore, this "Association" exists mainly in its letterhead...
...However, those who think thst way should obey their heart's desire or, as in some rases at least, heed their hopes for a more promising future political career...
...Nor would it be possible to excuse the whole affair with the explanation that it was an "editorial mistake," a mere "oversight" by the writer of the propaganda pamphlet The facts we have mentioned have played a far too important role at the time of establishing the "Council" for that to be feasible...
...please note the elegant technique which permits Karl Frank, alias Secretary Ann (spies of the "Association," to endorse Karl Frank, alias Paul Hagen, member of the "Council": "We, the Association, sponsor the 'Council for a Democratic Germany.' "The Organising Committee of the Council ia composed of former Reichstag members and officials of the Weimar Republic, from the Social Democratic and Catholic Center parties, clergymen, trade union leaders, prominent scholars and writers...
...Alone at home I love but Thee, My kisses Thou canst share...
...Our task ia to see to it that the real and reliable German Democrat* have a chance...
...not one among the former members of the Reich Government end German State Governments, Secretaries of State, diplomats, mayors, and others responsible officials has joined...
...Nevertheless, the tremendous advances that must yet be made in Chinese higher education are indicated by the fact that there is only one college student in 6,600 in the .population as against one in 100 in the United States...
...Little criticism of administrative officials was heard, and this British experiment of extending democratic methods seems to have started in a way which will attract favorable attention in other sections of the colonial empire...
...e • • In spite of the adversities of war, enrollment in Chinese universities in autumn of 1944 roee to 73,000, an increase of 1,000 over but year and an all-time high...
...One cannot, on one side, join a "united front" movement and then, on the other side, deny its very existence when it becomes expedient to do so...
...But one cannot stand on two opposite sides at the same time...
...Social Democrats, the Catholic Center Party, and Liberals are mentioned, but the Communist*— how do they feel about it, one wonders—are completely disowned...
...They never, or seldom, meet in conference to adopt resolutions after thorough discussion...
...The composition of the "Association" differs radically from that of the "Council...
...When the ballots, cast by 365,000 voters, or 55.18 percent of those eligible, had all been counted, it was evident thst the Jamaica Labor Party under Alexander Bustamante had swept everything before it, securing 23 out of the 32 seats in the House of Representatives...
...Of about twenty former Reichstag members, now living here, only two have joined the "Council...
...Those unable to read voted according to symbols which designated each party...
...Rudolf Kats, former Ahtermeaee President of the city of Alton., are editor, of the Nome VoUuteUunf...
...An interesting phase of the election was the method of balloting by which illiterates (80 per cent of the pop* ulation, though a lower percentage of voters) could use suffrage intelligently...
...Trinidad is considering the adoption of a social security plan, and trade unionists ere seeking something along the lines of the Beveridge scheme...
...At any rate, the Daily Worker recently complained bitterly about this remarkable fact We are convinced that you, as convinced and libertyloving Americans, intended merely to lend your name to a worthy cause, the cause of a future genuinely democratic Germany...
...It is affiliated with no 'Free Germany Committee' in any other country...
...We consider this opinion to be wrong for various reasons...
...Governor Sir Bede Clifford is discussing proposals with executives of the West Indies Development Commission...
...Some light on the progress being made by women in India is cast by a recent report on the last examination for graduate degrees at Calcutta University, wherein virtually all the honors have gone to women students...
...Thus, we feel justified in concluding this letter with these two questions: "Did gen know that pear name it e#m# used as a tpontor of m German 'united front' group in which Communist...
...For this reason, very few of the loyal co-workers of the Weimar Republic who are now living in America have joined the "Council...
...Any such move would be checked by the presence of the Communist members who act as representatives of Moscow's foreign policy...
...But you, American liberals, should see clearly what ia here being done in your name: a planned attempt to present, with misleading statements, to the American public the newly created New York "Council" as a group of "genuine, true and dependable Democrats," while in reality it is but another "united front" committee along the pattern of parallel organisations in Moscow, London and Mexico...
...that this time no substitutes, no new converts to democracy receive positions of authority or 'represent' the people...
...NEWS ON THE FOUR WINDS-Worldover Press KlNGSTON.—All political factions here are anticipating new social advances, plus new responsibilities, aa a result of the mid-December elections, perhaps the most amazing held anywhere...
...But that is exactly what is happening in this case...
...It comprises the names of about thirty well-eatablished, independent and respected Americans of liberal tendencies—the individuals to whom this appeal is addressed...
...We do not deny that there are people who are of the opinion that a "united front" of German Communist* and democratic emigres is now Wie tactically correct solution...
...Furthermore, the "Council" must never say a word about the planned cession of East Prussia, Silesia and Pomerania, a question which should be of very great interest to its members...
...They are among the Ur 'era of" the Social DeaiecraU exiled from Nasi Germany...
...The common law of the force of political gravity alone make this conclusion inevitable—even if some of its participants did hot intend or foresee this inevitable result...
...Don't greet me in Union Square...
...The participation of the Communists in the "Council," its "united front" character, Its obvious connection with the other "Free Germany Committees" through the various individuals in the participating Communist block—all these facts are suppressed knowingly and purposely...
Vol. 28 • January 1945 • No. 1
