Evening star., 1947-05-02
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

In listening to the report Of John
Foster Dulles on the Moscow conference,
T had an overwhelming impression OF
the boldness, clarity, and long-range
prospect of success for the Soviet pro-
gram for Germany, and of the timidity.
confusion, and inadequacy of our own.
Mr.. Dulles accused the Russians of
not living UP to the FotSdam agree
ment-as the Russians accuse us. Act-
TALLY, Potsdam is in the ash can ands
good riddance. But when Mr.. Dulles
said "the Potsdam agreement did not
work well in helping the Soviet Union"
he assumed that all the Soviets wanted
was German machinery. That industry
cannot be ripped from its whole complex
of materials, communications and skills,
Grated, and re-established 1000 miles
off to function efficiently, was obvious
to any BOBBY. That it would rust in
disuse was inevitable. But all the Pots
dam conferees agreed to 1t.
H%
What was accomplished, however,
was to intensity destruction, unemploy-
ment, and physical and intellectual
chaos in Germany and Europe. While
we are blaming the Russians, it might
be well to remember Mr.. Morgenthau,
whose zeal for German deindustrializa-
ton extended to permanently shutting.
down the Ruhr mines-the coal basin
of all Europe-and who, with his vocal
supporters, cast long shadow over the
Quebec and Potsdam Conferences.
The condition which will help bring
about a Sovietization of Europe is a
e., oF - ite CT IF 1iEyiyo
beneath the Soviet level-with the West
holding out no prospect of improvement.
To accomplish that, it has been neces-
sary to complete the wreckage of Euro
pean industry. The center of European
industry was Germany. And the loudest
and most persistent wrecker-voices were
in the United States.
Ruin and rule are Soviet and Commu-
mist policy. If our leaders are just wax
ing up to that fact, they are getting a
belated education.
Now, when the German. Austrian
fear Consequently, I was able to make
excellent grades. AS result Of one
such examination, I entered Govern,
ment agency as war service appointee
nearly five years ago. During Satur-
days examination, however, was in a
condition of paralyzing fear, which I
realized was elimination OF the
months of worry, helpless resentment
and humiliation prevalent among Gov
eminent employees since the attacks by
Congress began. Because of my fright,
I failed in the simplest section OF the
examination, one requiring only robot
like checking of large number of
comparisons. In later sections of the
examinations, based on knowledge,
Judgment and education, was able to
do very well, because there training
and experienced outweighed the terror.
However, my failure in the purely me-
chanical first sections will make pass
ing grade impossible. / learned that
other competitors had the same expert
ence.
But I happen to be one of small
group doing highly specialized clerical
work, which requires technical knowl-
edge acquired only over long period
of time. A minimum of two years
experience Is needed to become pro-
ficient. Presumably, however, Con-
gress believes that 1t is economy to force
out well-trained and efficient employees
and replace them with new and mex
perienced ones
There is much congressional talk
about turning out present Federal en-
ployes to make way for veterans. This
might be commendable, If the veterans
always were as efficient as the employees
they replace. Unfortunately, they are
not. Many are excellent workers, but
too many behave like irresponsible teen
ayers, wasting their own and others
time, scarcely even pretending to work,
secure In the knowledge that because