Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on April 13, 2008 at 20:48:47 from 195.93.21.2 user ACB.
In Reply to: Re: SOS, Please posted by Dan Lind on April 11, 2008 at 00:34:53:
Hermann Goering, interviewed by Gustave Gilbert during
the Easter recess of the Nuremberg trials, 1946 April 18, quoted in
Gilbert's book, 'Nuremberg Diary.'
Goering: "Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some
poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that
he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece.
"Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in
England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is
understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who
determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the
people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or
a parliament, or a communist dictatorship."
Gilbert: "There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some
say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the
United States only Congress can declare wars."
Goering: "Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the
bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in
any country."
I'm obliged to a fellow Ransome enthusiast, Martin Schultz, Director of that excellent maritime festival,the Flensburg RumRegatta, for drawing this quotation to my attention.