Says Jews Ought to Be Satisfied with Von Papen; Hitler Movement Declining

The Hitler movement in Germany reached its peak in the last elections and is now on the decline. Although the von Papen government cannot be called a parliamentary one, still the Jews of Germany have no reason to be dissatisfied with it. This is the opinion of Dr. Walter Wolff, general director of the Rudolf Mosse advertising concern of Berlin, publishers of the liberal organ “Berliner Tageblatt”, expressed in an interview with a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency following his arrival in this country several days ago.

The decline of the Hitler movement,according to Dr. Wolff, is due in part to the withdrawal of support previously granted it by the industrialists. “The Moor has done its duty. The Moor can go.” This represents the present attitude of the great German industrialists who previously aided by large contributions the growth of the Nazi movement, Dr. Wolff said.

“The Hitler movement was the springboard for von Papen,” Dr. Wolff said. “The great industrialists desired the ouster of the previous government which was influenced by the Socialists. The selection of von Papen as Chancellor represents the success of this endeavor. Therefore they can see no reason for continuing their contributions to the Nazis.”

Dr. Wolff predicts that the forthcoming elections will show at least a 20 percent decline in the Hitlerite vote. Hitler, he believes, missed his chance when he refused to participate in the German government. Chancellor von Papen has now taken the wind out of the sails of the Hitlerites.

Discussing the attitude of the von Papen government to the Jews, Dr. Wolff said it would be an exaggeration to state that the von Papen government is friendly to the Jews and that German Jews have no grievances against it. Under the circumstances, however, German Jewry ought to be satisfied with the sternness the present government is evincing in its efforts to restore peace and mitigate the anti-Jewish incitement.

German Jewry, he declared, is disappointed in the actions of the Centre Party for whom many Jews voted in the last election. This was because of the attempt made by the Centre to conclude a political alliance with the Hitlerites to oust the von Papen government. “There is, unfortunately, no party in Germany for whom the non-Socialist Jews could whole-heartedly vote,” Dr. Wolff said.

He termed as ridiculous the rumors current here that the Hitlerites in Germany have had some influence with German steamship lines with the result that Jewish passengers on German steamers are treated with unfriendliness. Dr. Wolff, who arrived on the Bremen, asserted: “I, as well as all other Jewish passengers on the North German Lloyd line Bremen experienced the friendliest attitude on the part of officials of the steamer. All other statements to the contrary are ridiculous,” he declared.