No. 1

In post-War Europe, non-German statesmen are increasingly nervous over the success of German War veterans at international veterans' conferences in convincing non-German veterans that Der Fuehrer stands for peace and that if war comes it will be the fault of other countries. Last week War Veteran Adolf Hitler (Iron Cross), who recently tore up the so-called "German war guilt clause" of the Treaty of Versailles (TIME, Feb. 8), was host to another international veterans' gathering at his Bavarian chalet. Along with French, English and other veterans was James L. McCann of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"The German Government consists almost exclusively of War veterans," Veteran Hitler told the Veterans Congress. "The German Government advocates peace not out of weakness or cowardice, but as real veterans who know the value of peace because they know the horrors of war."

Afterward Tuscaloosa's McCann said: "The movies don't do him justice. There is much in the new German regime that I do not like, but after having seen and spoken with Hitler, I can understand why the German people accepted his regime." Other veterans agreed that Der Fuehrer is "simpler, more attractive and more sincere" than they had expected to find "after reading his speeches and seeing pictures of him." Said a French veteran: "I hope Monsieur le Chancelier will invite some members of the Cabinet of my country to come here. The atmosphere would facilitate understanding."

Armless Italian Veteran Carlo Delcroix, blinded during the War, shuffled forward, recalled in poignant words that "Chancellor Hitler, too, was blind for some time in a War hospital." In happy mood, the No. 1 Nazi went on to chat informally with scores of veterans--Austrians, Belgians, Bulgarians, Czechoslovaks, Greeks, Hungarians, Yugoslavs, Poles, Rumanians.

After saying good-by to Hitler, the veterans returned to Berlin, chose the blind Italian to be "President of the Permanent International Committee of War Veterans in Berlin," adopted a constitution at the Aviators Club. A wireless to the New York Times from its Berlin office read: "Rumors that the congress was called purely for the purposes of propaganda and glorification of German and Italian Fascism were denied emphatically by all."

In Paris next day Veteran McCann, who although he hails from Tuscaloosa is in business at the French Capital, told Associated Press: "We were greatly pleased to get Hitler's assurances that war is not on his program, but we are not convinced. . . . Hitler told us: 'Mine is a long-range program, and war would prevent my constructing homes for 4,000,000 persons.' ... I am not at all certain that Hitler did not order this veterans' meeting for publicity purposes. We were given a nattering reception. . . . The assurances that Germany would cooperate for peace were sweet music, but it is better for us to await acts. . . . Goering was the most independent man I saw in Germany. He spoke with great assurance and seemed independent of Hitler."

The American Legion wished it to be distinctly understood this week that neither Veteran McCann nor anyone else at Veteran Hitler's party was authorized to represent the American Legion.

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