Now–editorial Notes

DR. HANS LUTHER, the German Ambassador to the United States, who had held high posts under the German Republic and who now represents the Hitler regime, protested to the Department of State against the Madison Square Garden meeting at which the “Case of Civilization Against Hitlerism” was so effectively presented. The German Ambassador tried to get the Department of State to prohibit the meeting on the ground that it would inevitably be construed by many people in Germany as having an official character. Under Secretary of State, William Phillips, naturally took the position that the Department of State would not prevent the meeting in ##of the fact that any attempt ## interfere with it would be regarded as a violation of the constitutional right of freedom of speech.

Ambassador Luther must have known very well that he could get no other answer from the ## of State. He also knows very well that the German Government, which he represents, will be more than annoyed by the magnitude and representative character of this American meeting, even though it voiced unofficially the public opinion of the American people. The German people will not be permitted to hear what the American people think and say of Hitlerism. The Nazified press is thoroughly gagged.

The German Ambassador’s mission was extremely delicate, for he knows well that his own government is violating international goodwill by carrying on in this country vicious propaganda directed against an element of the American population, vilifying Americans in high ## and attacking American democratic institutions.

The former leader of republican Germany must find himself in a humiliating position when he tries to defend the Hitler regime of bigotry and hate.