Evening star., 1946-01-09
Quicker Solution Seen
In Rebuilding Germans
Floundering Methods, Indefinite
Occupation Hit by Writer
By David Laurence

DJ DNIsU LHUTEUCE
Long before the war ended there were
two schools of thought about how Ger
many should be treated. One advocated
that the German people be given the
severest possible punishment, on the
theory that the whole nation was re-
sponsible. The other advocated that
the German nation be stripped Of its
war potential and the guilty war GRIM
inals executed but that the people as a
whole should be rehabilitated.
One of the principal arguments
against the so-called hard peace" was
that democratic nations would not raise
the armies or incur the burdens OF a
long time occupation. Those who clam
ored for decades of occupying were
never able to say who was going to enlist
IN the Army to do the work Of policing
Germany.
Today the American parents and rela-
tives Of the soldiers want their boys
home. The demonstrations against de-
lay in demobilization have been con-
spicnous. President Truman had to
issue statement explaining the enor-
NOUS nature of the task and the need
for keeping troops at the outlying posts
where the terms of the surrender have
to be executed
Long Occupation Seen.
Whether the people of Japan even
tually become our friends is related to
the manner in which Gen. Macarthur
carries out the occupation task. Ger
tainly the indications at present are
that the japanese and American peoples
Will become friends rather than merely
former enemies. If this develops, it will
be because the United States has not
arranged to occupy Japan indefinitely.
In Germany. however, the situation is
different. 1t begins to look as If Ger
many will be occupied for decades to
come. 1t is doubtful whether British
or Russian troops will be withdrawn
from German soil for long time. Is
America prepared for an indefinite oc-
cupation? To accomplish it a large
Army will be needed, and as yet the
War Department has not been able to
develop plan that would bring in the
necessary forces as requirements for
SnA'ehAS iCdbAi
Occupied With Merger.
Too much time and attention has
been given by the War Department to
the politics of the proposed merger of
the Army, Navy and air forces and not
enough time to the simple task of rails
ing an Army by means other than the
draft.
The selective service law is still in
operation Congress has not terminated
this statute nor has there been any
crystallization of opinion behind any
substitute. The problem of universal
military training has been agitated even
though no Army adequate to replace
the troops overseas has been provided.
Under the War Departments military
training bill, service overseas was not
to be required anyhow.
| So it all comes down to the single
| fact that the Allies are still in a state
of war and yet the United States is
under pressure to demobilize its forces
at once. Congress has been putting pres
sure on the military establishment. But
neither the President nor any member
OF his cabinet has pointed out that
American occupation forces are to stay
IN Europe for several years and what
forces will be used.
Major Problem.
There are. Of course, those in the
| Government who feel the United States
can leave token force abroad The
British would be uneasy about this and
so would those Americans who feel the
United States should stay in Europe
and enforce discipline on the German
/ people
President Truman has urged that all
! men overseas be brought back and vet
! 1t is obvious that the voluntary enlist
ment plan has not brought in enough
men to replace the overseas veterans
Ihere is lack of leadership as well
as planning in the whole affair. Fur
thermore, the advocates of a hard
| peace" seem to have reckoned without
the demands of the parents and rela-
tlVes, as well as the veterans them
selves. The desire to get back home
and forget about Europe is as intense
today as it was in 1919 so far as the
troops are concerned. Here is a major
problem in international relations. A
course that seeks to rebuild the German
people and to bring them into the
family Of nations will bring peace to
Central Europe more quickly than
fioundering methods and an indefinite
occupation.
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