Evening star., 1947-12-21
Wrecked Frankfurt
Seems Logical Choice
As Western Capital
BY the kssoo;oted Press

FRANKFURT. Germany, Dec. 20
Collapse OF the Big Four Con-
ference projects this stolid HessiaE
city onto the world stage as the
potential capital of Western Ger
many.
At first glance, it appears to be
bit OF miscasting. Frankfurt has
the grimness of an average indus
trial town. and even without its
heavy bomb damage it could not
offer the vistas of Washington. the
charm of Paris, the glories of Rome
or the traditions of London.
But 1t does have advantages that
make 1t natural choice for the
role.
1t is the most centrally located
large city In Western Germany
almost at the junction point of the
American, British and French zones,
with their approximately 46,Ooo,OOO
people
Office Space Available.
Somehow, amid its ruins. it offers
office space. First the American
Army and then the Economic Coun-
ell of British-American "Bizonia"
established headquarters here.
1t is a hub of air and railway
communications Eight airlines
from seven countries-the United
States. Britain, Switzerland. Sweden.
Norway, Denmark and Holland
make regular stops.
Po{1x,yo0 y1rouiIn o,,ary,i0hf - a
to Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen.
Vienna-and Berlin. Each day 300
trains chug in and out of Frank
furt's main station, which escaped
serious damage while commercial
buildings near 1t were wrecked
Frankfurt also has a history, and
1t draws heavily on three past events
as symbolic omens of the future.
First, 1t was the focal point a CEN
tury ago of the first attempt to es-
tablish a democratic government in
Germany That was in the "revo-
luton of 1848" when a national as
sembly was formed here-only to be
liquidated a month later when Prus-
sian totalitarians -egained the upper
hand.
City is Finance Center.
Second, Frankfurt was a great f.
nance center-the home of the
Rothschilds and other renowned
banking families. The question now
Is whether Frankfurt, inundated
with shaky marks, will be able to
establish stable new currency.
Thirdly, Frankfurt was the birth
place of the poet apd philosopher,
Goethe. Civic leaders point to him
as a master of fate in its adversely
and look to his philosophy for inspi-
ration.
In the task of rebuilding the city
70 per cent damaged-they have
taken as an unofficial slogan the
words of his Faust: "Seize your
tools, grasp your spades and shovels. ="
But the rebuilding task, handi-
capped by shortages Of equipment,
labor and sound money, progresses
slowly. 1t doesn't look much differ
ent than it did on the morning after
the great air raid of March %, 1914.
Old City Hard Hit.
Some shops have reopened on the
ground floors, but gaping holes still
yawn in the upper stories. Damage
is scattered through the city.
Most heavily hit was the "old
city" beside the Main River. Goethe's
home was wiped out. The pictur-
esque town hall on Romerberg Platz,
where emperors were crowned in
years past, is a rubble heap. Ma
jestic st. Paul's Cathedral suffered
heavy damage.
The people are iH-clad Their
faces often are lined, rejecting q
bare subsistence ration. A surpris-
ing number of men lack one limb
lost from wounds or freezing on the
battlefields.
Yet in all this dreariness there is
an atmosphere of activity. The
streets and the tramways are
crowded with people going some
where. Just where isn't clear.