Evening star., 1945-01-21
By Edvard A. Harris

/ severe in law than the occupation of
France in 1910, though 1t will be less
severe than that of Poland. The
occupation can. of course, be long = y
but no reasonable man in Europe can
believe that millions of persons will be
kept indefinitely in servitude. Germany
will one day again have to take her ap-
propriate place-with what drawn and
distraught features we can we'll
imagine"
L'Aurore, organ of the Radical
Socialists: THE German abscess has
not yet been absorbed; 1t may never
be and it will not be overcome with
Theological congresses. The United
States, which has undertaken to play
predominant role in Europe, should
have no illusions as to the magnitude,
the duration and the difficulties of the
task thereby devolving upon it. At the
moment it appears to attach slight
value to our cooperation. That may
change. 1t is to be hoped that this
change will not come too late"
LHomme Libre, organ of the National
Movement of Prisoners and Deportees:
"The Germany that must be destroyed
is the Germany of the 'Konzerns'-the
Germany of the trusts. Otherwise she
will remain deadly menace to France"
Temps Present, weekly of the Social
Democrats: LET us mention some of
the pressure screws the conqueror will
have at his disposal. International
ization of the Ruhr The transfor-
nation of Germany's industrial economy
into an agricultural economy; potato
and hops cultivation is far less menac-
ing to the countries across the border
than the proximity of blast furnaces.
Divided Attitude.
'We will not touch the Munich Hof-
brau but we will abolish the Krupp
ironworks. In addition, we can profit
ably decentralize the Reich; this de-
centralization should be based on a
relative indulgence toward the weak
section and an inf1exible severity to-
ward the strong sections of the Reich"
Action, weekly of the Committee for
Military Action of the Resistance
Council: Let us be clear; we want
the German trusts, the Prussian oil
garch, pan-Germanism to be destroyed,
and that is how the German people
will be liberated. We do not want all
Reich industry to be taken over with
out further ado by the American trusts.
This will serve only to increase the
power of the trust throughout the world
and will not constitute liberation
of Europe.
1--WE must strike not only at those who
carried out orders but also at the re-
sponsible leaders; in other words, the
ruling classes of Germany who, tomor-
row; will plead innocence and will wash
from their hands the blood they have
shed. We, however, have greater con-
than in the policy of certain circles
across the Atlantic"
If those certain circles were sur
prised by the signing of the 20-year mu-
tual assistance agreement between De
Gaulle and Stain, the French them
selves were greatly pleased. The French
thought they were being treated with a
measure of aloofness by the United
States and Britain; the pact with Rus
sia was in the nature of a coupe d'etat"
that integrated the Soviet's fortunes
with those of France and seemed to as
sure common Russo French front on
the momentuous postwar German
enigma.
See Decades of Control.
Reporting to the French Consultative
Assembly on the Franco-Soviet pact,
Foreign Minister Georges Bidault said
the two countries had agreed on the
necessity of removing the Rhineland,
the Ruhr and the Saar from German
control, but he had nothing to say
about the type or length of such con-
troll. What the status of this territory
will be is question in which all our
Allies are interested" he said. THE
Allied forces, and above all, our own
forces, will mount guard on the Rhine
De Gaulle and other French leaders
have publicly envisioned occupation OF
the Rhineland, not in terms of few
years but in terms of decades, as min
imum requirement for holding the Ger
mans in check. At press conference
held by Gen. de Gaulle in Washington
last July 10 at the White House, he
spoke frankly of Frances intention to
occupy the Rhineland for long time,
and 1t is noteworthy that he took oc-
casion to stress the part that his
country must play in the peace settle
ment.
president Roosevelt and I talked
about all war and postwar problems, -
he told reporters. II wonder how any
one could imagine that the question of
Germany, which has been our very un-
comfortable fleighbor for 1000 years,
would be settled without France. It
could never be settled without France,
even If, as do not believe. that had ever
been thought possible"
The French look upon the Rhineland
not only as strategic springboard for
Germanic aggression but as the main
furnace for Germany's heavy industries,
an area economically essential to the
waging of war. France apparently sees
no reason why the Rhineland should not
be placed under its control to strengthen
its industrial as well as Its military
position, and some Frenchmen even
have urged outright annexation of the
area. 1t seems reasonably certain, how