Evening star., 1947-09-26

1como Speech
| produced any good result. We had
in this country after the civil war
the most striking example Of its
futility and its tragedy.
Adopted Morgenthau Plan.
In effect, we adopted the Morgen-
thau Plan. 1t was suggested In the
Yalta Conference, but 1t was for all
practical purposes approved at Pots
dam by President Truman in the
text released on August 2, 1945.
The policy Of the occupation was
designed expressly to convince the
German people of their criminal re-
sponsibility and to reduce them to
a level of subsistence only. Pro-
duction Of all important manufac-
tured goods was to be prohibited or
limited, with the exception of coal.
Payments of reparations in kind was
to leave enough to enable the Ger
mans simply to exist without exter-
nal assistance. Millions of Germans
were to be deported from Eastern
Germany and thrown into the rest
of Germany to feed and support.
Germans were to be educated in de-
mocracy and taught to abhor Hit
ler-a good idea if it could be done.
The policy at Potsdam was carried
out by directive issued to the Com
mander in Chief of Occupation in
April, 1945, known as jos 1867.
Thereafter, In spite Of constant dis
avowal that we were enforcing the
Morgenthau Plan, this directive,
which was in effect the same thing
remained In force until this year.
1t finally came to an end on July IS,
1947.
This policy was reputation Of
the Atlantic Charter promise that
all nations, including vanquished
nations, should have equal treatment
from an economic standpoint. 1t
was also utterly futile unless we were
going to govern Germany forever.
That always was impossible. Ten
years from now the Germans are
bound to be governing themselves
even though foreign troops remain
to prevent rearmament II the de-
struction suffered by Germany in
the war was not enough to discredit
Naziism, certainly 1t would not be
more discredited by harsh treatment
for few years by armies of occu-
patton.
Opposite Result Seen.
In fact, attempted education by
foreign invaders is more likely to
produce the very opposite results
from that which is sought. The
policy extreme de-nazification down
to the smallest units can have no
possible effects once we have left
Germany, and in the meantime de-
prives the nation Of the services of
nearly all Germans trained in gov
ernment in those routine activities
of local organization, SO necessary
to economic recovery.
The result has been to keep the
German people so short of food that
many Of them believe that starva-
ton Is our deliberate intention. 1t
has been to deter all economic re-
covery so that 1t costs us six hun
dred million dollars year simply
to bring the German diet up to q
subsistence level.
remember several years ago in a
committee hearing, I asked Mr..
Morgenthau how he thought Europe
could be prosperous If a nation Of
i eighty million in the midst of Europe
was reduced to an agricultural
subsistence. His answer was that
other countries around about Ger
many would quickly develop the
necessary industries. expressed
doubt, but he was convinced. OF
course he was utterly unrealistic.
Not only has the policy deprived
the rest Of Europe of many products
which could be manufactured in
Germany. but 1t has deprived them
OF q market for their own exports.
lIt has, thus, completely upset the
economy OF Europe and now we are
called upon for taxes from our tax
payers to remedy the breakdown.
Only One Way Of Control.
There is only one way in which
Germany can be effectively con-
trolled. That is to control the pro-
duction Of a limited number of es-
sential products. The Vandenberg
Plan proposes that we remain in
Germany indefinitely, but only to
prevent re-armament. If that Is
the ultimate practical plan-and I
believe 1t is-there is no reason why
1t should not have been adopted
from the beginning Of the occupa-
ton and German recovery pro-
NOTED, so that its people might move
towards the equal economic condi-
tions promised by the Atlantic
Charter.
The result of our whole policy,
furthermore, has been to destroy
the reputation which we had &C
quired in the world for justice and
fair dealing. Until this war the
United States had been looked upon
IN Europe as q disinterested party.
But today we are regarded as n
other imperialistic nation sctiag in
our own selfish interest. A recent
poll shows that one-third CT the
British and larger percentage of
the French believe that America
desires to dominate the world.
We have failed to keep our prom
ises to many people yearning to be
free. We have failed to keep our
promises to the world regarding
Germany.
Attitude Of Expediency.
do not see how We can hope to
secure permanent peace In the
world except by establishing law
between nations and equal justice
under law. It may be a long, hard
course, but believe that the public
opinion Of the world can be led