Evening star., 1945-04-06


did to countless
citizens of Frank R. Kent.
Russia, France, Poland, Belgium,
Czechoslovakia and other liberated
countries. Against their will, they
were taken into Germany, used as
slaves and treated with great bru-
tally Certainly. we minced no words
in describing the operation. The
phrase slave labor" came into gen.
eral use.
But now the situation has changed.
Now, with the Germans defeated.
the question of reparations is prom
inent in the minds of all Allied
statesmen. 1t is very difficult busi-
ness, indeed. Our deep thinkers on
the subject seem aware Of the prob
lens, but not sure of the answers.
However, there is one thing about
the reparations business of which we
can be certain-and that is that we
are going to acquiesce in the de-
mands of our associated nations
that they be permitted to take into
their countries, after hostilitieS end,
large numbers of Germans, who will
be used to repair the damage which
they inflicted upon the land and
rebuild the cities which they de-
stroyed.
Justified Retribution.
In brief, it is now proposed that
We do to the Germans what the
Germans did to others. The big
difference is that what we propose
to do will be justified retribution for
the purpose of rebuilding for peace
instead of destroying for war. The
first demand came from Russians
and already has been indorSed by
Mr. Roosevelt.
But similar demands are expected
from France and Belgium. which
have great clearing and rebuilding
problems that cannot be handled
without far more labor than they
have available. France already has
estimated a need of 100000 Germans
for these purposes.
We are going to yield to these
demands Just as we already have
yielded to the Russian demand
which is estimated at million. In
fact, we have no excuse for not
yielding.
But we do not want the operation
referred to as slave labor" though
that, of course, is exactly what it will
be. Those words, it seems, are dis
liked by our labor politicians. And
the whole iGea of slave labor" is re-
pugnant to the extreme Left Wing
ers, who 50 ardently supported Mr..
Roosevelt for fourth term and are
so articulate in their championship
of the common man"
Oppose "Slave Labor" Term.
The elements which so zealously
supported Henry Wallace and Aubrey
Williams in their recent struggles
which include the vociferous Mr..
Hillman of the PAC, and his unctu-
GUS colleague, Mr.. Philip Murray, are
particularly averse to the slave
labor" designation.
AS these elements are more potent
within the administration than any
other, 1t is natural for administra-
ton propaganda to reflect their
views. Caught between a Yalta
understanding with Russia to "go
along" on "slave-labor" proposals
and strong distaste upon the part of
the liberal elements, White House
strategiSts are striving for another
phrase, the not very complimentary
notion being that if the words are
changed the liberal elements" will
not care, or, perhaps, even know
that the substance remains the same.
So far, "manpower reparations" is
the best substitute devised; but that
does not seem to have become very
popular yet. Those interested in
this matter of phraseology do not
ascribe the distaste of slave labor"
solely to the liberal elements" On
the contrary, they feel that the
sentiment of the people as whole
is opposed. They, themselves, it is
explained of course, recognize that
slave labor" conflicts with funda-
mental American conceptions of
freedom as expressed in the basic
law of the land. Our intention to
yield to the demands is a matter of
necessity and done with great re-
luctance. Such are the arguments.
Not Well Based.
However, it appears that in this
case the argument is not well based.
So far as the people as a whole are
concerned they distinctly do not
seem opposed to the use of Germans
for repairing the damage done by
Germans and rebuilding the devas-
tated areas of countries once under
the German heel. They revolt from
neither the words nor the plan. On
the contrary, various tests of public
opinions have shown that Amer
leans, generally, regard the pro-
posals as eminently just and proper.
Certainly, too, slave labor" easily
may be the greatest single repara-
tions which can be gotten from Ger
many. No matter what it is called,
the facts remain the same. The
phrase may be poor one, but the
idea is all right.
If we are going to accept it-and
we are-it would be better to be
frank about it and stop being hypo-
critical. The words make little diff
ference-it is the act that counts.
If this act is justified, there is no