The Daily Alaska Empire

LIBERTY AND LUXURY

Former President Herbert Hoover has returned
to this country after an extended trip through Europe
one of the high spots of which was his interview with
Adolf Hitler, the strong man of Germany. It is re-
ported to have been the first time that Hitler encour-
aged criticism of his political setup. Hoover is said
to have told the German leader that there was no
chance of his extending the Nazi doctrine to America.
He not only told Hitler he believed nazism is unfit
for America, but boldly gave the opinion that it may
not last long in Germany itself. Hoover expressed
the view that the totalitarian system of rigid control
over a nation's life is not a practical nor enduring
force in world affairs. He contended that the Ameri-
can people never could be reconciled to tolerating a
Nazi or Fascist order in their country. He said Ameri-
can democratic ideals are irreconcilable with nazism.
The American people, he added, could never be
convinced that any political or social system is prac-
tical unless it provides for intellectual freedom.
Hitler retorted that such individual liberties are
luxuries which a country, possessing vast natural
resources such as the United States, can afford, but
it would be impossible to permit such freedom in
modern Germany and still have a workable political
structure.
Hitler defended nazism by citing the economic
progress of Germany since January 30, 1933. He
sketched a glowing picture of Germany's economic situ-
ation.
Like Mr. Hoover, most of us will find it hard to
think of individual liberty as a luxury, but it might
be well to take a tip from Mr. Hitler and guard it
carefully or we might see the day that it becomes a
luxury.