Evening star., 1944-05-20
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Creers Letter Brinss MANY
Questions About Germany

Mr.. Creel's Letter Brings Many
Questions About Germany
To the Editor OF The Star:
Recently there appeared at the head
of your Letters to the Editor" column
a communication entitled: Mr. Creel
Wants the Germans Educated by
Facts"
May I comment as follows?
Every so often an entirely capable
man succumbs to an emotional impulse
and hastily dictates expressions that do
not do justice to his superior mind
Mr.. Creel in this case doubtless was
motivated by entirely justifiable fierce
anger" The writer of these lines has
been moved by similar fierce anger" for
10 years. Hitler and his gang, GRIM
inals by any standard, must be wiped
out-for the sake of the world at large,
for the safety of Europe and for the
protection Of millions Of Germans who
will survive the war and who can and
under intelligent leadership (of both
victors and the Germans themselves
will contribute to the betterment of
mankind.
But the help Of serious minds Is need
ed for the solution Of the problem of
how to bring the desired fulfillment
about.
And Mr.. Creel's letter shows little
evidence of serious thought. Space does
not permit enumeration or discussion
OF the loosely and wrongly stated facts"
OF the past as years nor of the COM
plicated, unfamiliar and unprecedented
issues of the immediate future. I, how
ever, do protest that there is no i'm
portant public opinion in this country
today to deny the propriety of present.
ing to the German people most forcibly
the errors that Mr.. Creel lists in his
communication.
Nor do know of objection from any
influential group to Mr.. Creel's pro-
posals for disarmament, demilitariza-
ton, punishment of war criminals, re-
turn of loot, payment for wanton de-
struction. These are elementary re-
quirements upon which we are agreed.
But we are fullof confusion about many
other vital procedures.
For example, how would Mr.. Creel
re-educate the German people? Seem
ingly, he thinks they must be re-edu-
Gated. But who will do this?
Let me also ask: Was it possible for
the Germans to rebuild their army and
their navy without the knowledge and
consent Of their former enemies our
Allies? Is 1t not misleading to suggest
that the Germans fooled us? Cannot
the Allies this time set up controls to
prevent the Germans rearming even
with the consent or indifference of some
of our present Allies? Cannot we get
help from the German masses to assure
this?
What would Mr.. Creel do with the
heavy industries of the Germans? He
knows that there are conflicting ideas
under discussion. Would he permit the
conversion and rebuilding of German
industries for peacetime production? If
so, under what control?
What would Mr.. Creel suggest as to
the breaking up Of the large Junker
estates and the development of a health
Ter agricultural economy for the peas
ants? Does he recognize the desirable
ity of separating the irreconciliable lead
ers, the Junkers, the industrialists and
the militarists from the masses of the
German people? How should 1t be
done?
Does Mr.. Creel believe that a sound
Germany is socially, economically and
politically desirable, If not, indeed, nee
essary for the welfare of Europe? Is
he in favor of assisting the people of
Germany to accomplish this even though
1t leaves partially unpunished body of
citizens and nation guilty of crimes
so great that they never can be re-
dressed entirely?
VIII 1t be possible for the Germans
ever to repay the tremendous physical
damage done by them, not to mention
the even more serious damage to life
and to morale which cannot be repaid
in this world? How will it be possible
to measure what Germany can and
should do in these undeniable circum-
stances?
Mr.. Creel says that talk about mass
determination is nonsense but he ia
Vors the arrest and the trial of all war
criminals. Where and how will he
draw the lines between one group and
another? Will he favor inclusion among
the war criminals Of those industrial
and Junker leaders without whose help
the evils of Hitlerism never could have
overcome the real Germany? Does he
really believe that the German race Is
distinct unto itself with all the evils in
herent that characterize the criminalitv
OF the present Nazi leaders? What is
the real Germany" of the past and of
the future?
These are but few of the questions
which, as I see them, require calm. un-
emotional consideration. Let Mr.. Creel
help us to approach the whole vast in
elusive problem with ideas that NAV be
useful in the crisis. CES
Asks Water for Creatures
To the Editor OF The Star:
This evening I saw nice dog that
had just been shot by policeman, east
of the Smit bcOpian b,,i1dipoc