Evening star., 1948-09-14

director-manager who would pull the d1sor-
ganized institute together ended in the appoint
ment Of DR.. Tietjen, 4 most controversial figure
whose political record during the Hitler years,
despite his recent de-Nanfcation is considered
more than doubtful.
Intense and often implacable political hos
tility between the Western and Eastern camps
and the desperate shortage Of paper and other
essential raw materials which the air lift can
bring in only in very small quantities have
changed the face of Berlin's formerly riotously
varied assortment Of periodicals and other pub
lications. Newspapers and magazines OF all
kinds appearing with Western licenses have
suffered paper cut Of nearly so per cent and
are now operating below existence levels
number Of publications considered not essen
tial, chiefly fashion journals but including also
. serious political monthly, Deutsche Rund-
schau, have had their paper ration withdrawn
altogether. Others have preferred to forestall
approaching bankruptcy and to close down OF
their own accord. Those still published are
left lying on the stalls In large numbers. The
truth Is that people have no money for culture.
Satirieal Paper Goes Over.
Political "defections" to the Russian side are
few and on the whole unimportant. However,
Ulenspiegel, brilliantly clever and hard
hitting satirical paper which counts Berlin's
most gifted cartoonists and its sharpest wits
among its contributors suddenly changed
Sides Handing back their license to the Amer
lean Military Government on the grounds that
the restrictions under which they were COM
PEELED to work were too onerous, the editors
took out new license from the Russians and
the paper now is appearing its number of
pages substantially increased, on the other side
nf "a N far itS
change of allegiance, it is possibly more witty
than before The well-known political cabaret
of the same name in the British sector, far and
away the most spirited and accomplished show
of its kind In all Germany. closed its doors on
the day of currency reform and has not re-
opened. 1t must be counted 1t seems, among
the casualties.
Art galleries, too, are having q difieult time
Although Of q lesser appeal to the general pub
lie than theaters they nevertheless used to show
4 good deal Of new and interesting work by
younger painters who have come to the fore
front since the war. Artists like Zimmerman,
Troekes and others had succeeded in striking
new note in painting and sculpture and were
beginning to be noticed by experts and COL
lectors from abroad. The monetary chaos and
the complete uncertainty of the future value
political animosity which tends to turn every
thing shown in the window of an art gallery
into battle-ground for acrimonious party strife,
has induced many of them to retire to their
studios.
Politics. in fact, are fast poisoning what
is still left intact from the ravages Of the
currency tangle and the blockade. Criticism
and debate, whether conducted in public
through newspapers or discussion groups or in
private circles, Is invariably infected with crude
political party ternainology to a degree unknown
and inconceivabe in any other European
country, and therefore is fast becoming fruit
less, boring and sterile. Writers and critics
Of worth and standing either are exhausting
their gifts and energies in fighting fierce 1deo-
logical battles or they are withdrawing from
the debate leaving 1t to the minor spirits to
fight out the great cultural issue between East
and West with what weapons they have and
are able to WELD. As . result. the general level
is linking 1t is sinking fast in every sphere.
dondon Observer Foresn News servce)