Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
In March 1934, the American Jewish Congress and other anti-Nazi organizations organized a mock trial of Hitler to take place in Madison Square Garden. Hitler was so angered that he had his diplomatic corp try to head it off through entreaties to the US government. A State Department official replied before the event that due to "our constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression" the federal government could not stop it.
The trial proceeded, but Nazi protestations continued after the fact. An angry Secretary of State Cordell Hull ultimately laid out the situation in a formal communique to Nazi foreign minister Nuerath:
"It is well known that the free exercise of religion, the freedom of speech and of the press, and the right of peacable assembly, are not only guaranteed to our citizens by the Constitution of the United States, but are beliefs deep-seated in the political consciousness of the American people."
Hull then addressed Germany's urging the U.S. to disregard these principles:
"It appears, therefore, that the points of view of the two Governments, with respect to the issues of free speech and assembly, are irreconcilable, and that any discussion of this difference could not improve relations which the United States Government desires to preserve on as friendly a basis as the common interest of the two peoples demands."
(The confrontation is described in Eric Larson's latest book, "In the Garden of the Beasts," pp. 231-42.)
- Comment (11)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments:
May '11
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
Very good, thanks for bringing this to our attention, I've taken the liberty of sharing this on my FB feed.
Domo!
Jun '10
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
My god, actual clarity. How refreshing. Yes, definitely thanks for posting this.
Sep '10
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
I wonder if our current SoS looks at this and thinks, "Well, maybe if we had offered a better apology that whole WWII thing could have been avoided"?
Jan '12
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
It's nice to read this, but it utterly depresses me that we can't expect this type of response today.
Sep '10
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
Dempsey should be perp walked today.
Aug '12
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
Back then, we had a government that actually cared about freedom.
Edited on September 13, 2012 at 6:45pmFeb '11
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
That was then. This is now.
Feb '11
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
Brilliant! Spoken from quiet strength and certitude. How low multi-culti, therapeutic thinking has brought us now.
I am amazed when people contend that Hillary has been a successful Secretary of State. She's been awful from the word "Reset" on. Now we all reap the whirlwind she and Obama sowed.
Sep '10
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
Godwinned!!1! Because, Hitler!
Seriously, though - great post. Our department of state has been a flabby bunch of quislings for too long. With the proviso that yes, there are some strong willed, smart diplomats out there. But they are the lonely exceptions.
Apr '11
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
Godwin ex machina!
Steven Drexler: Godwinned!!1! Because, Hitler!
Seriously, though - great post. Our department of state has been a flabby bunch of quislings for too long. With the proviso that yes, there are some strong willed, smart diplomats out there. But they are the lonely exceptions. · 1 minute ago
Sep '12
Re: Compare/Contrast: When Hitler Protested His American Mock Trial
For those who may want to look up this book on Amazon or elsewhere, the author's name appears to be spelled Erik Larson, and the title is "In the Garden of Beasts."
http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Beasts-Terror-American-Hitlers/dp/030740885X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347571992&sr=1-1