Evening star., 1949-12-17
Allies Embarrassed
By Political Moves
In West Germany
Failure to Understand
Germun Mind Shown
In 'Hessiun' Force Plan
By Dorothy Thompson


naur's saying out loud what
Americans and Britons have been
saying publicly and privately for
some time. The chancellor OF
West Germany, whose policy has
been a permanent settlement OF
all differences with France al
ready has accepted-at courage
GUS risk to his own career-all
the Allied demands set forth in
the Petersberg negotiations.
He has agreed that Germany
should enter the Ruhr authority.
He favors the greatest possible
economic union with France and
the Benelux countries. He has
suggested that, to quiet French
fears, future American credits to
Germany should be canalized via
France. And, finally, he has
pledged complete cooperation
with Allied military security reg
ulationS.
But what do the Allies want
in the way of military security?
Only an Official Secret.
That is now only an official
secret. Gen. Montgomery let
the cat out of the bag IN New
York. The European press has
publicized it widely in the form
of trial balloons. And the actual
circumstances themselves suggest
1t.
Many indications exist that the
Russians are planning action In
Germany. A purge of the pre-
1888 German Communists is under
way in the Russian zone. OF
which Premier Grotewohl. sud-
denly taken "ill" with strangely
contradictory diseases, may be a
victim. The Russians have been
training a security police" in
both conventional military drill
and guerrilla tactics. Finlaly, the
appointment Of the Russian Mar
shal Rokossovsky as commander OF
the Polish armies is interpreted,
with every logic. to indicate an
important decision on the German
question.
II the Russians are planning a
political coup through the dra-
matte withdrawal of their armies,
Rokossovsky is on the border for
two possible purposes: to prevent
a possible determination between
West Germans and Poles. and /or
to hold the Poles in check in the
event of a Russian proposal to re-
wise the German eastern from
tiers in favor of the Germans
the most sensational political
move that they could make.
To meet such eventualities the
Western allies are politically and
militarfly unprepared. To re-
tain Western occupation forces
after the Russians left would be
a political hazard. Their with
drawal would leave defense vac
uum.
Misunderstood German Mind.
To meet this dilemma the Allies
have been considering, to avoid
the charge Of rearrning a German
army taboo to the French), re-
cruitment Of a German force to
serve under Allied officers. 1t was
this that Chancellor Adenauer re-
veaIed in his statement that Ger
many might, in the future. be
called on to lend manpower to a
Western defense plan.
The Allies doubtless believed
this would be popular. From the
beginning of this war to the pres
ent day their misunderstanding
of the German mind has been ex-
traordinary. In their books all
Germans are incurable militarists,
longing to jump into uniforms un-
der any circumstances. They are
now embarrassed by the revela-
ton that this is not true!
American military maneuvers in
Germany last summer (politically
incredibly idiotic) convinced many
Germans that their country was
being considered an expendable
battle-ground in case of war with
the Soviets. And the idea that
Germans should be recruited for
an Allied "mercenary" army or
their own soil receives anything
but applause. So now the Allied
policy Is to counsel dead silence
while, presumably, they think
again.
If they would think. for 9
change, about a few Fundamental
principles Of morality, democracy
and human psychology they might
be more successful.
Basic Equality Of Forces.
The idea of an all-European de-
fense force to protect every Incl
of the soil of Europe against
either direct attack or a military
putsch from East Germany Il
sound, as is the idea that pan
European forces should be under
a single command. But the condi'
ton for popular German suppor
of participation is basic equalit!
among all forces.
Although DR.. Schumacher has
fortunately, composed his differ
ences with Chancellor Adenauel
and been readmitted to his sea
in the West German Parliament
his unfortunate cry that Ade
nauer Is "the chancellor Of th'
Allies" still echoes.
And although dictatorship
such as the East German ma!
raise mercenaries. out of Commu
mist fanatics and ex-Nazi adven
turers, democracy cannot ere
ate twentieth-century Hessians
For, whether we like it or not
the essence of democracy is free
dom and equality and we hat
better not repeat Stalin's mistak
with Tito.
The recreation Of Germal
national army Gan idea whicl
some Allied military leaders ais