Evening star., 1949-07-30
Pact Weakness Called
Lack Of Provision for
Germany's Defense
Protection of Reich
Depends on Continuation
Of Occupation Forces
By Dorothy Thompson

Inc weakness III CHe AbIdIltlC
Pact is that it makes no provision
for Germany's defense. An armed
attack on any one Of the sigma
tories will. the treaty states. be
regarded as an attack on all. So
also will an attack on the occupa-
ton forces Of any Of the signatory
parties in Europe.
The only such occupation forces
are in Germany. Thus, the pro-
lection of Western Germany de-
pends on the unlimited continue
ton of the occupation. Germany
may not rearm for her own
protection, nor Is she included in
the system of collective security
She is not, by the Atlantic
Pact, protected against armed at
tack by. the Soviets nor. even
against attack by the Atlantic
powers. Her security rests on
permanent division and occupa
ton.
Defeated and disarmed countries
most require collective security
When a nation is denied measures
for its own defense, its victors
assume moral responsibility for
It's protection. II divided, as the
victors are, they also expose them
selves to dangers arising from the
yulnerabifity of the defeated.
Recognized In Italy.
This is recognized in Italy
Despite immense efforts of Com
munists plus Socialists to defeat
the Atlantic Pact. its security ad-
vantages outweigh the opposition.
Twelve army divisions are palp-
ably insufficient to defend coun-
try that has only shore-protec-
ton navy, unless that army is
standardized within a larger de-
tense force and the country pro-
tected by external naval and air
power. A nation cannot resist
without means. If national means
are not permitted they must be
externally supplied.
BY including Italy in the pact
Western strategists admit that a
line without Italy exposes Africa,
the Mediterranean and the Mid
die East.
But a strategic line without
Germany exposes France. the At
lantic and Great Britain.
Western Germany should not be
rearmed. But it must be pro-
tected. And to protect Western
Germany it is essential to include
all of Germany. with or without
East German consent, in the Sc
curity Of the Atlantic Pact.
In August. Western Germany
will obtain central government.
That government will depend op
the popular will. The popular
will demands German unity and
the end of the occupation.
In Washington. London and
Paris there is well-founded ap-
prehension Of the rebirth Of
militant German nationalism.
The circumstances created for
Germany make it inevitable.
Machiavelli-who had a first-rate
intellect-said, "A defeated enemy
must either be utterly destroyed
or made into a friend
Bargain With Victors.
Germany has not been utterly
destroyed. Her cities are one
fourth to two thirds ruined. One
seventh of all Germans are pen
niless refugees. Twenty-Five per
cent of her male population in the
younger maturity groups are dead
or missing.
But the biological fabric of the
Germans has not been destroyed.
Nowhere have I seen such swarms
of strong. healthy children.
Techntlogical skill and willingness
to work have not been destroyed.
Vital peoples are not defeated
even by seemingly insoluble
problems, but sharpened by them
to extraordinary effort and ruth
less measures. With no security
or home except in the deathly
embrace of the Soviets, since a
unified Western Europe remains
a platitude, Germany must in-
evitably turn in on herself in a
frightened nationalism. She must
be prepared to bargain ruthlessly
between her divided victors and
If she must sell herself-to sell
herself to the highest bidder.
And If the West will not
guarantee her security, the West
eventually will lose its own. There
is no European security without
Germany. and no European
security against Germany in the
present constellation.
That fact Is unpleasant does
not change its factualness.
Mcmahon Ends 40 Years