Transcript of this little nugget of wisdom from November 21, 1922:

But several reliable, well‐informed sources confirmed the idea that Hitler’s anti‐Semitism was not so genuine or violent as it sounded, and that he was merely using anti‐Semitic propaganda as a bait to catch messes of followers and keep them aroused, enthusiastic and in line for the time when his organization is perfected and sufficiently powerful to be employed effectively for political purposes.

A sophisticated politician credited Hitler with peculiar political cleverness for laying emphasis and over‐emphasis on anti‐Semitism, saying: “You can’t expect the masses to understand or appreciate your finer real aims. You must feed the masses with cruder morsels and ideas like anti‐Semitism. It would be politically all wrong to toll them the truth about where you really are leading them.”

The Hitler movement is not of mere local or picturesque interest. It is bound to bring Bavaria into a renewed clash with the Berlin Government as long as the German Republic goes even through the motions of trying to live up to the Versailles Treaty. For it is certain the Allies will take umbrage at the Hitler organization as a violation of the military clauses of the treaty and demand disbandment, even as in the case of its predecessor, the Orgesch.

Seven years after claiming that prison time had ‘tamed’ Adolf Schicklgruber, the NYT served its readers this hard‐hitting investigation:

HERR HITLER REPLIES TO SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS

An Interview With the Nazi Leader in Which He Throws Light on His Policy in Some Foreign and Domestic Matters Not Explained Before and States the Main Points of His Program for Germany

Herr Hitler was asked whether anti‐Semitism was a fundamental part of his party’s platform.

‘“The attitude of the National Socialist movement to every inhabitant of this country,” he said, “is determined by that inhabitant’s attitude to Germany. Moreover, it was America, in spite of its enormous territory, that was the first country to teach us—by its immigration law—that a nation should open its doors equally to all races. Let China be for the Chinese, America for the Americans and Germany for the Germans. We have a very small amount of territory for our 65,000,000 people, but at least—within our restricted area—we can be our own masters. Let me add that I should severely condemn every German who would take part in public affairs in Palestine or seek to influence them.”

That was from 1931. Now let’s take a quick peek at January 1933:

In an editorial entitled “The Tamed Hitler,” the New York Times (January 30, 1933) told its readers to expect a “transformation” in Hitler as he begins “softening down or abandoning” “the more violent parts of his alleged program.”

(Source.)

April 1933:

Gerard Says Responsibility and Protests Will Sober Hitler.

James W. Gerard, former Ambassador to Germany, told an audience at the Y.M.C.A., 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, last night that the persecution of Jews would stop before long under the pressure of public opinion. He said [that] Chancellor Hitler would be sobered by responsibility and would strike out upon a more moderate road.

Mr. Gerard deplored the fact that the Germans responsible for the persecutions were unable to grasp the psychology of other nations and could not, therefore, perceive the effect upon the world. This lack of understanding of the minds of other peoples, Mr. Gerard said, was characteristic of the Germans during the war.

“The prejudice against the Jew in Germany is largely based on his ability,” Mr. Gerard said. “We have not the same prejudices here because we think we Yankees are just as smart as the Jews are.”

Mr. Gerard expressed the belief that “a little patience and decent protests from other countries” would compel abandonment of the persecutions.

(Source.)

August 1933:

Both prisoners and guards eat the same kind of food. That is a principle [that] Chancellor Hitler is enforcing for himself as well as his men, namely, that all Germans are comrades, even if political enemies, and should live more or less alike. Some of Herr Hitler’s lieutenants are less meticulous than others in carrying out the principle, but it is certainly enforced at Dachau.

All was not idleness within the camp. Some sheds had been converted into artisan shops, and here the skilled prisoners work. Tailors sewed gray prisoners uniforms, bootmakers built boots, carpenters made doors and windows and locksmiths made the necessary fastenings. Even an arts shop was created where wood carvers and sculptors were busy and a studio with a proper skylight housed an artist making crayon sketches.

The Order of the Day.

Following is the order of the day: 5 A. M. arising time, 5:30 coffee, 7 to 10:30 work, including a twenty‐minute pause; then the midday meal and a rest; 2 P. M. to 5 work, including a twenty‐minute pause; 6 supper, 8 counting assembly when every prisoner must be accounted for, and 9 lights out and bed.

The prisoners may write two letters a month, although there is no limit on letters addressed to the prisoners and they may receive two parcels a month, but only clothes and laundry. Food shipments, except sweets, are prohibited because of the danger of smuggling arms. The prisoners may also receive money from home, but only up to five marks a week, with which they may buy additional food from the canteen. This sells everything, including near beer, but no alcohol. Finally, good work is rewarded by an additional allotment of bread.

(Source. While somebody could dismiss this as an unimportant coincidence, I still found it mildly interesting that the NYT also reported an ultrapacifist professor’s pleas to Jews to tolerate the German Fascists and a pastor’s reassurance that the ‘people of Germany do not really hate Jews’ in 1934.)

August 1935:

NAZI PRISON CAMPS SOFTEN DISCIPLINE

Brutality Charged During the Regime’s First Months is Said to Have Disappeared.

ONLY SIX CAMPS ARE LEFT

(Source.)

See also: the NYT’s reaction to Italian Fascism.