Nazi Slaughter Shocks Capital; Hitler Scored

Complete collapse of the present Nazi regime is seen here by observers in the event that Hitler’s efforts to crush the revolt react to bring about another uprising.

Reports of wholesale slaughter of Nazi leaders by Hitler henchmen have shocked official Washington. To those who unofficially commented on the drastic step by the Chancellor to head off a revolt against the Third Reich, the bloody purging of the Nazi forces appeared to be the handwriting on the wall, which was interpreted as the beginning of the end of Hitlerism.

The rule of Hitler by bloodshed was severely criticized by Senator Borah, former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“A government by assassination cannot live very long,” Senator Borah said. “What a pity it is that a great people like the German people must be visited with such a scourge.”

Although both the White House and the State Department are following reports from Germany closely, officials could not be induced to comment in their official capacities.

HITLER TO MODIFY STAND

The revolt in Germany, according to Representative Sam D. McReynolds of Tennessee, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, “means the Hitler regime is about over or else the Chancellor is going to pursue a much more moderate course.” McReynolds visited Germany last year while abroad as American delegate attending the London Economic Conference.

While the bloody suppression of the revolt came with startling suddenness to the public despite the fact that revolution has been freely predicted in both American and European newspapers, high officials of the United States were not unduly surprised. For some time they have known that a delicate situation existed in Germany. Only last week Secretary of State Hull sent a sharp rebuke to Germany in the form of a note because Germany had decided to suspend payments on obligations held by American citizens. It was the most strongly worded note to that country since the World War. It was particularly critical of German policies under the Hitler regime, and mentioned military expenditures as contrasted with Germany’s pleas of inability to meet her obligations.

Relations between the United States and Germany, especially since Hitler came into power, have been less than lukewarm. In addition to debt questions, religious and Jewish problems have consistently stood in the way of more friendly relations between the Reich and this as well as other world powers.