The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-18


replace the Nazis and pan-Ger-
mans an objective to work toward.
There can be no doubt that the
terror of the unknown is more ter
rifying than the severest definite
terms which the Allies could and
would impose. There is no doubt
that what binds together the Ger
mans who are doomed men with
the Germans who will survive and
have chance to start life over
again is precisely this terror of
the unknown. In the absence of
definite terms no German knows
whether he is doomed or will sur
vive.
Why, then, since there are such
obvious advantages to be had from
it, have the Allies not yet reached
definite understanding? 1t is not
because they have not been think
ing about it but because, SO it
seems to me, the German ques-
ton is insoluble until a number
of other questions have first been
solved. What are these questions?
They have to do with the position
and the policy and the relation
ships of the non-German world
Until there is settlement around
Germany, there is no way of
reaching conclusions about what
can and should be done in and
with Germany.
For whatever done with Ger
many must be agreed to, support
ed and in very large degree ad-
ministered, b.. the immediate
neighbors of Germany. They are
Norway and Denmark, the Neither
lands and Belgium, France, Po-
land, Czechoslovakia and Austria.
The British, the russians and the
Americans would, no doubt, be the
ultimate guarantors of the Ger
man settlement. Fut if we look
beyond the military occupation,
which cannot be prolonged for
many years and s,lc'lld be as short
as possible, we must realize that
the terms of peace and how they
work out in practice will depend
u. the daily, detailed relations
between Germa~-- and her imme-
diate neighbors.
For this reason the settlement
with Germany cannot safely be
formulated definitely until the po-
litical and economic relations with
in western Europe, within eastern
Europe and the relationship be-
tween the to regions, have been
agreed upon and consolidated.
How can the western frontier of
Germany be fixed miles,; there is
a most thorough understanding by
the Dutch, the Belgians, the
French and the British? How can
the eastern frontier of Germany
be fixed unless there is
most thorough understanding by
the Dutch, the Belgians, tae
French and the British? How can
the eastern frontier of Germany
be fixed unless there is a thor
ough understanding among the
Poles, the Czechs and the Rus
slams? In the absence of such I'm
derstandings, Germany cannot be
held to any terms. For the unset
tlement among her neighbors will
provide the opportunity and the
temptation to sduirm and twist her
way, to intrigue and bride her
way, out of the terms of peace.
In these conditions the Germans
who will wish to be decent and
peaceable would have no chance
against the Nazis and the pan
Germans who, though out OF pow
er, will live on underground.
The German democracy OF the
future will have hard time COM
ing to life. It is at best very
fragile thing. German democracy
would have no chance unless it is
settled and remains settled beyond
all question that German i'm
perialism cannot be revived. This
will not necessarily require, I be-
lieve. the indefinite occupation Of
Germany. But it will require
state of things in which Germany
can be policed from distance
for as long as may be necessary.
But Germany will not and cannot
be policed if the policemen on her
frontiers are all at skies and sew
ems win earh other.
There are, therefore, the most
compelling reasons why the Unit
ed Nations should compose their
differences, organize the security
of their neighborhoods, agree on
how they will restore and develop
their own economic life and how