Evening star., 1943-08-08

German armies which Stain considers
as future element of order in the
pacilcation of Europe after the elimina-
ton of Hitlerism.
This Goes not tally with the complete
surrender doctrine of President Roose-
velt an6 Prime Minister Churchill.
The manifesto of the hitherto un-
known Free Germany National Com
mittee, which has the blessing of the
! Soviet government, goes step further.
1t tells the German people that with
draWal of the armies of the Reich to
their old borders and the overthrow of
Hitler and NaZi-iSm would bring them
peace and happiness. 1t may be that
the manifesto is a piece of superlative
psychological warfare, We hope it is.
But ii also may be considered as Rus
sla's conditions for peace with the
Reich, Should this be correct, it GER
tainly has created a good deal of diplo-
matte confusion, at least in Washington.
Neither President Roosevelt nor Sec
retary of State Hull had any inkling
about the Free Germany Committee or
Its appeal to the German people until
the news was published in the news
papers.
Not An Acceptable Peace.
The Allies are bound together not to
make separate peace under any con-
dition. There is no question, of course.
OF Russia desiring separate peace, but
1t looks very much as if she urged the
Reich to offer peace conditions to the
Russians and probably through them
conditions to the other members of the
United Nations. If they are the same
as contained in the manifesto. thev
certainly are not acceptable either to
Washington or London,
We are differentiating between Italv
and Germany not because we may like
the Italians and dislike the Germans.
but because we realize that the Italians
have never been serious antagonist
while we know that the Germans-Nazis
or non-Nazis-are warrior nation,
The American people did not 60 into
this war Fundamentally, determined to
make any sacrifice merely to defeat an
individual or a political group. We en-
tered the war with the determination to
prevent recurrence of such a scourge
Tor many years We know the Germans
well. They are strong, determined peo-
pie, who unless reduced to complete mill
tary impotence for half a century, will
start the whole trouble anew. d.
There is no feeling of vengeance among
the Americans and their leaders. But
1t would be betraying the people of this
country if we agreed to accept other
peace offers from Germany except un-
conditional surrender with everything
that is involved in this drastic policy.
Unless Germany ceases to be a mill
tary potential We cannot disarm or re-
duce our military expenditures. And the
manifesto of the Free Germany, Com
mlttee, together with the various state
ments from such responsible men as
Stain himself, does not indicate clearly
enough that this will be the policy of
Russia should it be confronted soon with
peace proposal from a non-Hitler gov
eminent on the basis of withdrawal to
the Reich's old frontiers and mainte-
nance of strong republican German
armed force to help keep order in Eu-
rope. ss
Some months ago Soviet Ambassador
Litvinoff, answering a question put to
him about peace conditions to the Reich,
is said to have answered facetiously IF
you people want to dictate terms why
don't you get to Berlin first?"
Reds Resent War Plans.
There is no question that the Russian
high command still resents the fact that
we have not invaded Western Europe. It
has regarded the operations in the Med
iterranean as of secondary Importance.
1t admits that such operations are con-
structive in the long run, but claims
they have not compelled the Germans to
withdraw single division from the east
ern front
An invasion of Western Europe this
year Is out Of the question We informed
Stain of this and have given him all the
facts and figures precluding such an Of
(See MOSCOW, Page C-3D