Wonersh Hollow,' Wonersh, Guildford. Sne,—Mr. Wiener's letter demands a short
reply, which I hope re will print. Even if Mr. Wiener's statement that he could prodoc.e 3,000 quotations from famous German men and women showing tbor despise of the German people or certain of its characteristics would be perfectly correct, there remains still the question: for what purP°sc is he collecting and publishing them? I am a refugee from Austria just the same as Mr. Wiener apparently is, this to illustrate that I certainly have no interest of any kind to defend what I myself have had to experience. But we have to ask ourselves—whether we are English or refugees of whatever country of Europe—what can we hope to see emerging out of this disaster? And what can we contribute to help the war and the future peace-
efforts?
The war aim is to do away with Hitler and Hitlerism in whatever form or disguise it may appear. The peace-aim is most certainly to lay the foundations of a better Europe, fit for the peaceful collabora- tion of its nations. The questions: What can we do? and Are we doing all we can to help arriving at this aim? ought to dominate all our thoughts and acting.
Apply these questions to Mr. Wiener's intentions. Does the publi- cation of such quotations help or hinder the war and peace aims? I do not think they are of any importance concerning the war aim, e.g., the crushing of Hitlerism ; but I am definitely sure they are hindering the peace-aim, because such quotations would most certainly help to increase hatred and despise of the German people in general, and peace cannot be based on continuous hate and despise.
Mr. Wiener would be well advised to abstain from his intended publication, save the paper and do something more useful to the
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