The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-06-08
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

"A hopeful policy for Europe as a
whole must include a plan that Is de-
signed to restore the people of Ger
many to health and sanity"
Elementary common sense, that yet
it does not seem to be understood by
some people, including some of the
commentators in newspapers and on
the radio, who seek to instruct the
people In the way they should so.
The quotation is from statement
by a Protestant study group composed
of prominent educators and church
men, both clergymen and laymen. The
group was called together to make
study of the peace settlement in
Europe, with particular reference to-
Germany.
In considering a policy for Ger
many the group delineated two choices ::
policy that will prepare the German
people for a constructive part in
European life ten years from now, or
one, the the chief effect of which will
be to keep Germany a center of infec-
tion at the heart of Europe.
ut would be politically easy at first
to reduce Germans to state of virtual
imprisonment but it would be impos-
sible to keep the prison doors shut for
long" the group pointed out. 1t re-
called the experience of the last war to
back it's contention that mere repres-
sion would assure a spirit of resent
ment to the point of madness within
Germany and sooner or later an alb
normal people would be let loose upon
the world"
The group, in setting forth a Chris
tian approach to the problem cited the
agreement of the two signatOries to the
Atlantic Charter that they will en-
deavor, with due respect for their
existing obligations, to further the en-
joyment by all states, great and small,
victor and vanquished, of access, on
equal terms, to the trade and to the
raw materials of the world which are
needed for their economic prosperity
The statement declared this promise
by vanquished as we'll as victors still
stands and that those responsible for
the policy of the United Nations should
hold to it.
1t is well that the promises in the
Atlantic Charter should be kept before
the peoples of the world, as even the
men wrote it seem inclined to forget
it. Thus Prime Minister Churchill has
intimated that provisions of the char
ter do not necessarily apply to Ger
many. Yet, he signed it with President
Roosevelt.
1t will be necessary to remove from
power the leaders of National Social |
ism together with their accOmplices |
among the industrialists, the military |
class and the reactionary landowners, |
said the report. But the cleansing of |
Germany-bOth it's public life and it's |
soul-frOm the poison of National So
,ialism must be primarily the work of |
Germans"
This is again elementary common |
sense. No nation can save another ma
.ion the saving must be self done.
The group stated that it is the spe
cial responsibility of the Christian
.hurch in the United States to prepare
he minds of the people of the nation
'or right relations with the German
people after the war. However, one
sided may be the responsibility for the
events which led directly to this war
md for the horrors that have accom- !
,anied it, all nations share response
,ility for the deeper evils of which
hey are symptoms. The sense of com
non guilt that Christians must feel
when they contemplate the total crisis
# our time will alone make possible
econciliation with the German people
n the future"