Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-09

But there is more anxiety in Washh
of Europe than ever before.
The American Government is
showing that the percentage Of
Communists in Germany as whole
is very small and that our. prestige
has considerably increased since we
proved our mettle in the airlift.
The American Verdun-as Berlin
sometimes is referred to by optimistic
officials-is holding, and there is no
reason, they say, why we should not
continue to keep the 100000 Ber-
liners indefinitely on the dole, since
we have already weathered the most
difficult winter weeks.
Inside View Less Rosy
The Russians, some experts main
tain, must admit in the end that
they have been defeated and will
relax the strict blockade because
there is no purpose in continuing.
Moreover, they add, this should be
an object lesson to Moscow that 1t
cannot trif1e with an America which
has made up its mind to do some
thing.
The picture is less rosy, however,
when we look at the situation from
the inside.
The German people voted over
whelmingly against the Communists
in the last Berlin election. This was
to be expected. The Germans In
the Western areas are not so foolish
as to vote against those who feed
them. They realize that if they had
voted Communist they might have
been deprived of American supplies
and would have gained nothing from
the Russians.
But by and large the German
people, while rarely expressing opin-
ions except those which coincide
with the views of the occupying pow
ers, are reported to be deeply con-
cerned over the future of their coun-
try. They are loath to see their
country divided and see no prospect
for an early peace because they are
aware that the East-West rift WILL
not easily be closed.
The problem before the Germans
today is which way to go. While
genuinely ANTI Communist and out
wardly opposed to the U. S. S. r.
they consider the future OF Ger
many, however, first OF all. In the
West they see France on the brink
of internal confusion and possible
political chaos. Britain Is shaky
and, while making desperate efforts
to get back on her feet economically
will not regain her power for many
generations. They see the United
States, which is so strong but so fal
away, also so confused in its polit.
ical thinking that from the German
point of view it will never be able
to do anything constructive for the
rebuilding of the Reich.
How the Propaganda Runs
The Morgenthau plan, while Off
cially discarded, Is still in effect ir
some ways, particularly since many
of the men who were sent to Ger.
many in 1945 as members of wreck
ing crews" are still there's While
their official positions may not be
important, their activities continue
to be as irksome and unpalatable as
ever for the rank and file of Ger
mans.
Moreover, the Germans are being
told that we at home will soon be
besieged with a number of impor.
tant domestic problems which will
distract the attention Of the Amer.
lean people from faraway Germany
unless something spectacular hap.
pens to give her precedence in the
headlines over all other news. That
spectacular occurrence can be only
an abrupt move on the part Of the
Russians, such as a coup against
the Allied forces in Berlin. This
however, the Germans-who are
better informed about Russian poll
tics than we-discount heavily.
The cold war, according to the
best available estimates, will con.
tinue for some time. 1t is difficult
to say whether it will be brought tc
an end in a few months, year OF
longer. The Russians are method
ically organizing their eastern ZONE
of Germany and, through theil
German stooges, are spreading viru-
lent propaganda among the masses
throughout the Reich.
The Russian propaganda runs
something like this: The French
have been the Germans bitter en-.
emies for centuries and will remain
so. The British are selfish and in.
terested only in the recovery o.
their country, at German expense
as much as possible. The Amer.
leans don't know what they are
doing, as can plainly be seen, ane
will never oppose the French anc
British idea of keeping the Ger.
mans down. Under such conditions
the Germans should realize thai
their best bet for restoration tt
unity and strength is to come owe,
to the Russian side.
Throughout their activities in Ger.
many the Soviets endeavored t.
show the Germans that they will moi
require them to become Communist
1t Is true that the present temporary
setup is along the usual Moscow
party lines. But the organization
Of German military police in the
Soviet areas shows that good Nazis'
and other types of ordinary German
nationalist stand high in favor with
the Kremlin.
Both Became Outcasts
The Germans are reminded in q
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