Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-10-30
Withdrawal From Germany?

Persistent reportS-the latest in the off,
cial Communist newspaper in Berlin
strongly suggest that the Soviet Union Is
preparing to make dramatic withdrawal
from Germany in the near future. As in
the case of Korea-where 1t has formally
announced its intention to do the same
thing-its obvious purpose in such move
would be to score propaganda victory
aimed at building up German sentiment
against continued Anglo American
occupation. .>
Thus, should the withdrawal take place,
the Kremlin could be counted upon to
make all the propagandistic hay possible
It could do so by harping on the theme
that 1t had taken a great step toward
peace by returning the Red zone to the
German people, but that France, Britain
and the United States, by continuing to
occupy their zones, had proved themselves
to be lacking in peaceful intent and in
terested only in an imperialistic desire to
reduce Germany to colony. Such line
undoubtedly could do much to embarrass
the Observation-Disclosures position.
OF course, the reports of the impending
withdrawal chow would 1t affect the Berlin
blockade and the Iron Curtain around
Eastern Germany?) must be taken with
more than few grains of salt. They come
principally from Soviet sources and are
therefore suspect. Nevertheless there is
at least possibility that they may turn
out to be true-an eventuality which the
Western Powers must be prepared to meet.
First Of all, from the propaganda stand
point, If the Russians get out, every effort
will be necessary to make 1t Enthusiastically
clear to the German people why Anglo
French American occupation must con-
tinue. In this connection, 1t ought not to
be too difficult to show how the Kremlin,
by leaving behind Communist-controlled
native militia and stooge government in
the Red zone, would be in position to
take over the whole of Germany If France,
Britain and the United States withdrew
their forces without first establishing
strong safeguards against a coup of the
sort that has placed Czechoslovakia in
Moscow's pocket.
Actually, as spokesman for the Western
Powers are now emphasizing, the safety
and well-being of Germany and free
Europe in general will demand continual
ton OF Anglo-French-Ame occupa-
ton until there Is real progress toward a
peace settlement in which the world can
have confidence. In other words, until
there are German and Austrian treaties
protecting the independence of those
countries against Sovfet-directed subver-
sion, and until the Kremlin shows some
genuine readiness to pull back its armies
into Russia and stop using its satellites to
threaten the entire continent France,
Britain and the United States cannot with
draw their occupying troops without en-
dangering themselves and the West as
whole. :- : 80 90
The simple fact Is In sum, that Red
withdrawal from Germany, unaccompanied
by strict guarantees against new acts of
direct or indirect aggression, would be
nothing but propaganda maneuver de-
signed to create confusion and pave the
way for the further spread OF the Kremlins
dominance. In the circumstances, the
Soviet Union, even though it may hope
to win German favor thereby, can be sure
that If 1t pulls out of it's zone the Western
Powers will still remain in theirs. They
will remain until there is a settlement on
which the free world can relv