Evening star., 1947-09-07

Europe's youth wants bread, III
politics-as the foundation for recoN
1t is tired Of war and rumors
suspicious and political chickering's.
Through an informal poll con-
youngsters gave their views on Eu-'
ropean reconstruction in the light
Of postwar deprivations and the un-
certainty OF the future.
The youth of Vienna feel that
any program to rebuild Europe is
hopeless until political problems are
solved, enduring peace is assured
and food rations are raised.
"As long as we do not know
whether Europe will be an economic
unity or split into eastern and
western spheres, 1t Is hopeless to
plan for anything over the borders
of your own country" said Hans,
26-year-old student.
Views of Doctor, Chemist
Karin, a 22-year-old chemist,
said:
How shall any one work for Eu-
ropean reconstruction If one has to
worry about the next WARP"
The fundamental need for food
is reflected in this observation Of
Jean, 27-year-old physician:
''1n my hospital position I have
learned how much damage the last
few years have done to the health
of the people. There is certainly no
sense in asking people to work as
much as they can and more when
they are hungry and weak"
Traudl, a 22-year-old secretary,
thinks Europeans cling too much
to tradition, our old civilization
and to long-gone nationalism." She
added, IT sometimes think we are
like an old royal family whose blood
is tired and whose members are not
fit 70 struggle through life"
Food is the cry in Berlin.
Food Is what we need" says
Charlotte Runge, 1S-year -old school
student. Before we get enough to
eat there can never be any recon-
struction. But do not think there
will be any because the last two
years have shown that the rich
nations use food as bargaining
weapons in the world game Of
politics."
Talk of United Europe
After food most Of the German
youth talk Of a United Europe.
"The only thing to do is set up
q United States Of Europe" assert
ed 17-year-old Manfred Gruehl,
mimeograph operator. Every nation
does what it wants. What we need
Is a government over all Of U.s."
Cynical Wolfgang Hirsch, 30-year-
old former German Army major,
said despairingly:
"The unity of Europe is . very
good idea but 1t will never be
realized. Nations are too greedy to
unite. Even when atomic bombs
finally leave only few people on
earth, like the great flood did in
the time Of Noah, those few will
begin quarreling all over again"
Manfred Marthoh, "a, Berlin
city councilman, observed that "ali
politics remain hollow phrases unless
one is given enough energy through
food to reconstruct the continent"
Gerhard FRANKIE, 21-year -old stu
dent, summed up briefly:
I'VE are hungry, regardless. of
our political background, and that
should be enough for unity"
Giovanni Crupi, 23-year-old law
student of Rome, is pessimistic and
believes another war inevitable.
Politicians Selfish
I'm not a warmonger," he says.
Its just that to build a peaceful
Europe, the democratic ideal has to
triumph over communism and a
third world war will be the only
way to do 1t. After that, there should
be an elected government to rule all
of Europe"
Benedetto Ansalone, 17-year-old
Roman student, visualized q United
States of Europe with the govern
ment composed exclusively of men
of scientific and spiritual culture"
But first of all, he said, "the great
powers should abandon their i'm
perialistic doctrines"
Chiquita Terrieri, Is year : old
housewife Of Rome. said:
Politicians work only for their
own interests. They never think of
the people. Political parties want
wars. People never want them"
A 24-year-old London scout
master, who withheld his name, had
this to say:
~Too many politicians are think