The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-03-04

awe. Inc phrase dptly recognizes
the relationship between Germany
and the western world, the depend
ence, for good or bad, of one upon
the other. 1t bares democracy's
most sensitive spot. Let's see what
is being done to keep the Ger
mans alive.
Recent hunger strikes in the in
dustrial heart Of Germany are
foretaste of worse things to come.
Competent observers agree on the
causes: faulty food collection and
distribution, lack Of essential goods,
and last, but not least, the absence
Of constructive Anglo-American
policy toward Germany.
Yet bad as conditions are, the
miners, who form the bulk Of the
Ruhr labor force, are relatively we'll
off. A special incentive system
gives them extra rations, food pack
ages from abroad, and consumer
goods not available to other work
ers.
Is it political agitation There is
Communist wire-pulling and some
Nazi underground agitation, but
the German workers knows what
to expect from clashes with the oc-
cupation authorities. Besides, Hans,
unlike his American colleague, is
allergic to strike action. To get him
out on strike the purpose and
consequences Of which are not clear
to him is near impossible.
What, then, is Hans main gripe?
The answer is not in production
and wage difficulties nor in his
misery amidst the ruins Of what
was once Germany. 1t is in the in
ability Of the western zone gov
.ernments to deal with labor issues
in a manner that will inspire conf
dence and make occupation strains
and stresses more bearable.
This is a serious charge. It can
be proven. Under an agreement
last summer between the German
coal administration and the miners
unions, the men were granted a
percentage Of the profits from
higher coal output and increased
exports. This boosted Ruhr coal
production to nearly 100000 tons a
day-a remarkable achievement in
view Of mechanical breakdOwns,
transport difficulties and the
wretched physical condition of the
people.
The miners bonus amounts to
$8,000,000 so farm American
money, not pegged German marks.
The idea was, and is, to spend this
nest-egg abroad for the purchase
of things long absent from Ger
man tables and closets. No more
charity handouts from Americai
With this hoped-for economic i'm
provement came new self respect
and renewed hope in information
al friendship and good viii for
Germany.
Alas, it was too good to last. The
plan failed for reasons obvious to
anyone acquainted with bureaucrat-
ic red tape. Sure, the German min
ers have a pile of dollars. So What?
Every attempt to use the money
for the very purposes it was col
lected has been rebuffed, with con-
that are apparent in
strikes and effective Communist T
agitation.
Purchases of large quantities of +.
potatoes, butter, bacon, meats, etc, |
in neighboring countries have fiz-
zled out due to refusal Of the gov I
concerned to grant ex-
port licenses. Appeals to the high
occupation command We're in vain.
A deal for 750 tons of American /
bacon fell through because the An
glo-American Export Import Agen-
cy, a branch of the allied Military
Governments, said no. The gentle I
men mumbled something about 9TH
er people being short on bacon, too,
and that was that.
This policy, harmful to western
and Germany interests alike, defies
rational explanation. The American
people are now in the midst Of
debate concerning the grant of II
billion dollar credits to Europe.
Secretary Marshall argues that if
he ERP is not approved Europe
vii lbe swallowed by the big, bad
Russian bear. Yet, every German
to crawl out of the mire
If defeat and economic misery is
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