The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-21

ed into at least four and possibly
Ave parts. II is actually country
without a government, although In
its various parts, conQuering mill
tary organizations are In control.
Economically, Germany is re-
duced TO zero. There is no indus
try, no agriculture. no banking, no
currency OF value. Germanys de-
feat on the economic side is as
complete as on the military side.
In the diplomacy OF the past half
century, Germany sought TO be-
come a Region OF nations. In this
the Germany from Bismarck TO Hit
Ter succeeded. In no small measure.
At its lowest point territorially.
Germany headed an Axis which in
cluded Italy and Japan. with such
countries as Spain and The Argen
tine closely affiliated. At its high
est point. Germany controlled al
most the whole of Europe and was
in alliance with Soviet Russia.
Now, Germany is an anarchistic
small state, governed willy-nilly
by aliens. The Nazis, having muir
dered or spiritually destroyed or
exiled Germany's democratic or
even non-democratic but progress
sive leaders, have left their coun-
try devoid of persons capable of
forming n government, The only
coherent group remaining are the
Communists and the German gen
erals situated in Moscow since Stall
ingrad. This group headed by VIII
helm PECK, the German Commuu-
list and Field Marshall Friedrich
Won Paulus may be able to form
government. But that would be
a puppet Russian government. No
comparable group exists in the
United States or Great Britain.
II may be summarized that Ger
many is at the moment as bank
rupt in personalities as in eco
Monies.
Some speak of a hard" or Q
soft peace. Such designations
are meaningless. The fact is that
whatever is left of the German PEG
pie. perhaps some 60,000.000. are
under foreign rule. Certainly, the
United States and Great Britain
will not want to remain in Germany
forever. France. on the other
hand. may seek a prolonged occu
patton of the Ruhr. which would
give France a modern industrial
base, while Russia may seek 10 IN
clude her area into the Russian Re
gion. These policies have not yet
been clarified. and may not be Tor
some consSderaAJe PERIOD. Mean.
while, censorship keeps Sreas OF
Germany so closed TO the public
view that it is impossible TO gain
enough facts to form an opinion
based upon something more than a
melange OF conflicting opinions.
II Germany remains in confusion
and chaos, Europe will be in con-
fusion and chaos, for geographical
ly Germany is the heart of Europe.
Furthermore. conflicts OF policy
among the United States, Great
Britain. France and Russia are
bound to increase il each country
goes its own way. In fact, in this
one little fact lies the germ of an
other war.
The problem then is not hard"
peace or soft" peace; it is to
lind a formula for the speedy con-
solidation OF Germany into a Euro
pean state with its own govern
ment in some manner chosen by
the German people. Such a new
state would have to be constitut-
ed by a method which would safe
| guard against the re-emergency of
militarism and the Nazi party. The
danger is that II nothing more
solid is accomplished than parti-
ton and alien occupation, both the
militarists and the Nazi may de-
velop an underground mass move
ment OF Overwhelming proportions.
| Germany is curious creature of
geography. In the very heart OF
Europe. it has failed to gain
strength by friendship and coopera-
ton with its numerous neighbors:
instead. it has sought to gain a
hegemony over Europe by force
This concept of German leadership
is in the tradition of the people.
1t is German folklore; it is in
German poetry and music. Yet, out
of this same Germany, in Goethe,
Schiller. Heine, Beethoven. and
many others, have come some Of
the noblest expressions of human
freedom. Even the socialist and
communist movements are German
products. Yet, despite all philoso-
phizing, the German mind turns
to "ordnung", TO an orderly. regi-
mented, controlled life. dominated
by a leadership from above rather
than by some popular choice from