The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-25

Re-education For
Germans Will be
Major Problem
nv Thartau - EthNNaFt
BY Charles p. Stewart

CAN THE AVERAGE CHILD Of
Maxi ancestry, once born but taken
in hand from the cradle, by civil
lied folk, be educated into normal
cy." as Warren G.. Harding called
it? II would seem that a start
should be made as early as possible.
The older the child gets, the pre-
sumption is that lot OF Nazism
will have 10 be educated OUT o.
him, in addition TO the civilized
dope that his Tor herr RE-educators
are trying 10 educate IN.
And when the little cuss has com
pletely grown up, experts incline 10
the opinion that death or complete
subsection Of his personality alone
can come TO his relief-and the re-
lief Of his civilized associates. too.
OF course, there is an occasional
case OF an inherently decent indi-
vidual. accidentally born into Nazi
surroundings, who remains yoluh'
tarily respectable all his life. 1t is
assumed that NaZi is German.
and we have had some corking good
citizens. right in this country, OF
American adoption and German de-
scent. However, Just at the present
juncture, they are regarded here
more or less as freaks.
The question is
Can Nazism, having unquestion'
ably taken be eradicated by edu-
cation?
The issue is being considerably
discussed by postwar planners.
The Axis?
II consists Of Herr Hitler's Nazis,
Signor Mussolinis Fascists and
the Japs
The italian people. though, elias
sify as generally nice. though mis-
led folk. Things can be patched M
with them quite readily. Tokyo4
government is rated as hopeless for
ultimate pacitication The few r.
naming little Quisling outfits DO
not count.
The difficulty with Germany Is
that It is chronic.
II is the consensus that the Fatn-
erland must be permanently
squelched.
How 10 keep it suppressed is the
problem. II stays beaten only about
a generation at a time
Mere defeat does NOT seem 10
finish It.
Re-education OF its whole people
is the remedy urged by intellec,
tuals OF the United Nationalities
The idea is TO lick the tar out OF
the Nazis OF today and 10 train the
folk into an entirely new
psychology in the course OF the en-.
suing three or four decades, while
their parents and grandparents are
dying off.
Now, can a whole population,
running high up into the millions.
be transformed like that?
The Italians do not need 1t. They
are o. k. anyway. The little peo-
Piles will be tickled, pink. l have my
own personal notion that the Japs
can be converted, once their Samu.
raj are wiped out. We and the rest
OF the Americas will be in cahoots.
Britain? Needless to say,
Reforming the Germans. OF the
present-day Nazi brand. looks like
a job Of converting them, to STAY
converted.
Chairman James G Mcdonald Of
President Rooseyelt's advisory
committee on political refugees ar.
gued this point at recent gather
ing on the subject sponsored by a
Just and durable peace confer
ence" before the Washington Fed.
Grafton OF. Churches. the Maryland
Churches and the Council OF Chris
tan Education
Dr.. Mcdonald does not think We
can successfully send Americans
abroad TO win over Nazi youth.
That. he said. is silly re-educa-
tional scheme.
He wants a durable peace-po-
litical. economic and religious"
But as TO German re-education?
II seems TO be regarded as toD
large a contract for immediate con-
sideration.
MADRID-(Delayed)-AP- Dis