The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-17
TODAY
and

CONTINUED From Page one)

EerrIaNy Is q pAS =,
economic recovery OF Europe alla
for a healthy world economy. IN
the other, the economic recovery
II Germany implies the increase
~ Germany;'s war potential.
The Western neighbors Of Ger
many, as well as CzechoslovaKia'
and, il free to choose, Poland also
would certainly agree on the prln-
oip]e of the Netherlands memoran'
dum-that the best hope hes IN al
high degree of decentralization OF
Germany accompanied by
stae Recommendation Of economic
power" German industry ana
German manpoWer are a war po-
tential if they a be reginen1eo
and administered as a Init by a
central government. If the central
government cannot command ths
whole German economy, if com
mon action depends upon obtain
ing the consent Of the different
German states ard OF industrial
nlants owned and managed local
", the wa potential will be great
" reduced. Germany can, IN othe1
words, be encouraged to be pros
porous provided she does not have
powerful central government.
To insist on the economic unfit
cation Of Germany under a Berlin
government before the pollt-
ical decentralization has been &C.
conaplished, and the great cartels
broken up. would be an irrepara-
able mistake. All the European
countries take that view, and, L
we adhere to u own convictions,
we must take the same view. For
what the Europeans want is the
kind Of Germany which we have
started to establish in our own
zone.
To unity and reconstruct Ger
many and then to start decentral-
ling her is impossible. Germany
can be decentralized only while
me lacks a strong central govern
rnert. Once she has a strong cen
trail government. the Germans who
run that government will be able
and will be determined to deny eff
tective authority to tn e separate
states. Once the eggs have, been
scrambled in Berl;n. they will nev-
q, again be un~scra.n5led.
This, in essence. has been the
French thesis from the beginning.
and it may now be- said that it is
the European thesis. zach Of the
European countries T a c e in
sluded, has its special claims upon
Germany. They will have to be
Mediated and ~reconciied. But over
riding the special claims here is
now 4 common conception Of the
kind Of Germany which can be
brought into a European conarau-
nifty. 1t is a Germany which cannot
act as one powerful and dominating
ma states, each sufficiently auton-
10 instead a confederation Of Ger
man states, each sufficiently auto
omous to form connections with
its neighboring counties.
Thus instead Of a firmly united
Germany in the midst Of a dis
united Europe, the way would be
opened towards a united Europe,
in which the several German
states, none in itsele very strong,
would play their equal parts.
Too much unity for Germany
VIII not only prevent the unifica-
ton Of Europe; it will dangerously
divide the Big Three. For a united
and centralized Germany will
in the course Of a few years, per-
haps ten, be again the leading
power on the Continent. Russia,
Britain and America will bid
against each other for her support,
lest she throw her weight which
would be considerable and perhaps
decisive, against them.
This will make certain the re-
vival Of pant ermanism, subsidi-
xed and patronized by the great
powers bidding against each other.
The German democracy a tender
thing at best, would be trampled
cut.
In Moscow, London and in
Washington there are influential
men who are deeply tempted by
the idea that a strong, united Ger
many can be made a dependable
ally. This is the most dangerous Of
al illusions. and as long as it per-
sixts it is the chief ootacle to a
sound settlement.
Historic experience ard the logic
q the present situation alike tell
VI that if and when Germany we're
united and reconstructed as the
strongest power IN the Continent,
her first alliance would have to be
with Russia. For her first object
will be to recover the lost prov
inces in the east. Germany will
not be strong enough to reconquer |
them by a But Germany may
well be a sufficiently valuable ally
OF Russia to recover them by a
diplomatic bargair--on the lines o.
the neutrality-suspicious. pact r. at
the expense o. Poland.
S iSAiS as 1C1A11oI1J Is 0tSli1GIll-
bered in the east, a deal with Rus
sia is bound to have greater at
fractions than any deal that the
West could make with Germany.
That is the reason why M. Mol
otov's stand against the decentral-
izaticn Of Germany has been so
ominous. That is why deep decen-
trslization Of Germany is the first
and fundamental condition Of
4 world as well as Of a European
settlement. !
For a centralized Germany can
upset. whereas a decentra- |
llzed Germany will help to main
tain, the balance CT power
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