Evening star., 1947-11-28
| Germans Reconciled
To Establishment Of
Western Reich State
By the Associoted Press

FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 2s.-'
Western Germans appear reconciled
to establishment of western Ger
man state while hoping the nation
eventually will be united.
Creation of the state, as, a new
European nation, has long been ex-
pected in the event the Allied Big
Four fail to reach agreement at
London on Germany,s future.
German politicians - especially
Communists - have been emphatic
demanding unity of all Germany,
but other considerations rate high
with cross-section of Germans in
terviewed in the American zone and
the Ruhr.
Bitter Communist antipathy against
even the unified British-American
occupation zones, to say nothing OF
q western German state, has prompt
ed somewhat favorable views to-
ward western Germany by many
nom Communists.
Russians Feared in West.
Fear OF Russian participation In
Western Germany, often openly eX-
pressed, appears to be the common
denominator among the average
Germans of the west. 1t Is a feel
ing which comedies with rising
American popularity and the ap-
parent waning of Communist in
fluence In the western zones.
People from various walks OF life
gave this impression:
Much as they are interested in
borders, they are more Immediately
concerned with the same problems
that have plagued them for the
past two years-food, clothing. hous-
ing, the revival of industry and re-
construction.
They are betting on the United
States as the Nation that can help
them most toward those ends.
They would be lukewarm to any
arrangement that gave America less
voice, and other powers more, in
controlling Germany, as long as the
nation Is to be controlled from out
side.
Hope for Unified Regime.
They hope, but with scant ex-
pectation, that the Big -Four will
give Germany unity under a Ger
man government to be chosen by
free election.
But they would question the ad-
vantage Of a unification in name
only-if 1t meant four control pow
ers wrangling over unity" policies
as they have done over the four
zone system.
They would prefer to see Western
Germany get started as a going
concern under such powers as were
in agreement on policy.
They would worry later about the
possibility of Eastern Germany be-
ing included.
On the border question, Germans
showed more interest In whether
the French zone will join the pres
ent British American "bi-zonia,"
than in whether the Russian zone
will join, because they see more
possibility of the former.
concerning GIlS GdSt, t1lcy oie-
played little optimism Of ever re-
gaining East Prussia, but they were
hopeful that Snesia would be in
cluded If the Russian zone ever
rejoined the West.
These views were expressed by
dozens Of "men.iIl-the-Street."
Typical among them were auto
mobile drivers for the British or
American military governments,
garage mechanics, steward In a
British club, receptionist, workers
in the coal industry and newspaper
men.
They voiced their views informally
to this reporter, who has spent more
than year in Germany, including
months in the Ruhr.
These views, first noticed soon
after bi-zonia was established, have
become more widespread since
Americans began sending food pack
ages to the Ruhr and with the
approach of the Foreign Ministers
Conference in London.