The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-06-12
Comment On
World Events

Russian Communist aggression is
again sharply to the fore as a re-
suit of the seizure Of power in
Hungary by Communist-controll-
ed government. Basic TO checking
Communism's spread is a strong
and democratic Germany, fact re-
peatedly pointed out in this col
umn.
Germany's vital Importance in
the building Of dam against fur
ther Communist advance is set
forth in cogent article by Matt
hew Vol, American Federation of
Labor vice president and chairman
Of the AFL International Labor
Relations Committee. In a new fea-
ture starting in the international
Free Trade Union News, published
by the AFL Free Trade Union
Committee, Woll does fine job of
analyzing the key question in world
reconstruction-Germany.
Woll declares there can be no
economic stability in the Western
world with the economic recon
struction Of that part Of Europe
which has not been over-run by
the Russians. "The key to such re-
construction is the rebuilding of
the economy and productive capac-
ity Of Germany" he says.
Whether a sound approach to
Germany's economic problem will
be applied depends primarily on
the United States" Woll empha-
sizes. an her present economic
plight" he continues, "Great Brit
ain is in no position to take the
initiative. 1t is high time we real
lied that it is in Americas own
economic and political interest to
achieve the economic reconstruc-
tion of Germany and Europe. There
is no other way to stop the engulf-
ing tide Of totalitarian Commun-
ISM"
Furthermore, Woll points to the
all-important fact that "the eco
nomic recovery of Western and
Central Europe is most vital to
the prevention of a serious depres-
sion in the United States"
"a program for the economic re-
construction of Germany, to be
sound, must be based on the prin-
ciple that this rebuilding shall be
done by the Germans themselves
and under German leadership"
Woll continues. "Any other ap-
proach would inevitably mean a
struggle between conflicting for
eign influences and interests with
in the German economy. Such a
struggle would prevent rather than
promote the reconstruction of Eu-
rope, and would deeply discourage
the German people, who cannot
be expected to approve or accept
for long quasi-colonial status"
Woll comes out strongly for an
independent democratic government
in the part of Germany not oc-
cupied by the Russians.
THE best way to counteract
Russian maneuvers, he says, "the
most effective way to insure the
necessary economic recovery of
Germany and to develop a demo-
cratic Germany (which will be ca
pable of resisting the virus of
Communism or any other totalitar-
ianism) is to take immediate steps
for the establishment of SOW
ereign German state in the present
western zones.
"The constitution of this Ger
man state should be decided upon
by the German people themselves.
All attempts to impose upon the
German people a solution of the is
sue of federalism versus central
ism in this state structure should
be abandoned and unsound and un-
democratic.
Woll halls the recent action of
the American Military Government
in revising its policy to provide
that the German people should be
given primary responsibility for
running their own affairs, Sin ord
er that they may practice and,