Evening star., 1945-11-04


tht Allied powers, any effort to measure
Germany's place In the Europe of to-
morrow would be only guesswork.
Definite steps, however, have been
taken toward social and political recon-
struction with $4,000 Nazis under arrest
in the American zone.
Rebuilding has not yet passed the
stage of clearing away rubble. Au-
thorities fear winter will bring consid-
cradle unrest because of lack of fuel,
food and housing Revival of industry
has been hampered by lack Of COAL
young manpower and transportation.
1t is estimated that it will be at least
six years before exports can be boosted
to balance essential imports.
Italy-Uncertainty over the future
has delayed indefinitely an all-out start
by Italians toward recovery from war
in which she was partner with both
victors and vanquished. Two years
after the armistice, Italian hopes for
clarification of her status were dashed
by the recent collapse of the Foreign
Ministers Council in London. Now
there has arisen an internal tug-of-war
between political factions impatient at
delay in solving the problems Of serious
hunger and abject poverty.
Dutch Solve Food Problem.
Netherlands-The Dutch have solved
their serious food problems and made
good progress toward restoration of
normal economy despite damage caused
by inundation of the Lowlands. The big
problem at the moment is that of the
future of the trouble-torn Dutch East
Indies, for there are very few families
who do not have some tie, financial or
family, with the rich colony. But life
for the average Dutchman is one of
little variety, little comfort. If he
travels, he goes usually by freight or
cattle car. He lacks clothes and shoes
and tires for his bicycle. But life in
by spring.
Poland-Twice in the European bat
tlefield within six years and twice torn
asunder in territorial splitups by big
powers, Poland is struggling to rebuild
what war destroyed, get back on her
feet economically and re-establish her
self as free and independent nation.
Poland finds herself handicapped in
coping with these gigantic tasks by a
marked lack of confidence in her gov
ernmental leaders by millions of her
people. Freedom of speech and press is
but phrase. No Pole can speak to an
American or other foreigner without
later being questioned by Russian
trained agents. Every newspaper is
censored.
Polands industrial progress, however,
has been good. Part of Polish public
opinion is on this line: I'VE wish some
body would make the Russians get out
of our country and let us alone. Then
we would settle things so we would have
freedom"
Russia Makes Progress.
Sweden-Trade pacts with Argentina,
Britain, France, Belgium, Holland and
Poland have been concluded by Sweden
since the wars end. From Poland, for
example, she hopes to get 5000. 900 tons
of coal and coke by the end of 1916
to feed her pulp paper machinery in
dustries. There have been few outward
changes, however, in the way of life
since peace, but the government has
asked Parliament to pass law making
anti-Semitism a crime, and newspapers
have agreed to voluntary newsprint
rationing to increase shipments to other
European countries.
Russia-The Soviet has made great
strides in six months toward getting
its homeless millions under some kind
of shelter, and in providing them with
jobs and prospects greater than they
ever knew. Hundreds of thousands Of
Russian troops have been demobilized
to speed up factory and farm produc-
ton. More than 10000, 900 mines have
been cleared from the fields and forests.
Workmen have started construction
of a network of new auto roads, link
ing Moscow with Leningrao, Minsk,
Krakow and the Crimea; half billion
trees have been planted in refores-
tation program, and peacetime recon-
version has brought great increase
in the production OF textiles, shoes and
surveying instruments. Russia's prob
lens are not for overnight solution,
but the Soviet is now blueprinting her
future more definitely through fourth
five-year plan.
Distributed by the Associated Press.