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


trial plants were placed at the dis
posal of the Germans to produce
prototypes Of prohibited weapons
which eventually were used to start
mass production after Hitler threw
over the restrictions of the Ver-
sailles treaty.
The Germans, Furthermore, are
reminded of the close collaboration
between Berlin and Moscow in 1889
and 1910 which, the Russians MAIN
tain, could have continued had it
not been for the madness of the
Fuehrer,
German historians who are now
serving the Kremlin are producing
voluminous data, based on historical
facts, showing that since the days
of Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor
and creator of the Reich, the policy
of Germany was directed toward CO.
operation with Russia and against
the West. 1t was only the corrupt
czarist regime, they say, which, hav-
ing been bought by French and
British gold, spoiled Berlin's con-
structive policy and sided with the
Western nations in World War I.
To show how grateful the present
Russian regime feels toward the
German people, the latter are being
told that had it not been for the
facilities offered in 1917 by the Ger
man general staff, Lenin and the
rest of the men who led the Boil
shevik revolution could never have
entered Russian territory, and with
out the presence of those men Rus
STA might have been split up into q
number of weak capitalist republics,
all of them prey for Western i'm.
perialism today.
Partnership Idea Stressed
These facts, figures and fiction
tales are being fed to the German
people to impress them with the
idea that the only hope for renais-
sance of the Reich lies in partner
ship with the powerful U. S. S. r.
The Germans are power minded.
They are duly impressed by the
fact that the Russians keep on the
borders of Europe a permanent mil
itary force far outnumbering that
which the Western Allies can muster
in the event of an armed clash.
The fate of the Czechoslovaks and
other countries behind the iron cur
tain does not frighten the Germans,
who consider those people as menu
bers of an inferior race. They bee
lieve, without saying so publicly
that there can be no other treat
ment for those peoples except that
given them by the Russians, since
they are not qualified to be free and
independent.
The rank and file Of Germans are
being warned to watch what hap
pens in France in the near future.
They know about the manipulation
of Soviet agents in that country and
expect confidently that before this
year is out the arch foe of the Reich
will have a government taking its
orders from Moscow.
It is true that number OF intel.
lectuals and government officials
placed by the Western Allies in
their present positions in Western
Germany-are shouting as lold as
they can their fidelity to Western
democratic ideals and their loyalty
to us. 1t may be true, also, that II
the German people were not in the
present dilemma of having to choose
between their present semichaotic
situation and their association with
Russia, they would prefer to live in
close harmony with the West.
Expected to Yield Easily
But the problem, as it appears to
them now, is what to do to revive
the Reich and to unite themselves.
They see no hope for rec mcilia-
ton between East and West They
see no possibility that the Western
powers might want to rearm them
and make them a useful instrument
in regaining the Reich's unity, even
if it were necessary to fight the
Russians. They hear us voice lofty
ideals, but see others displaying
complete contempt for the United
Nations and the Understanding
Western ideals. They are more and
more inclined to think that, after
all, if association with the U. S. S. r.
means reconstruction of Germany
as a power, such an association
should be accepted.
The present cold war which the
Kremlin is waging in Europe is
meant, among other things, to give
more food for thought to the Ger
mans, who are expected to give in
easily whenever the Russians decide
the time has come. The organiza-
ton OF an Eastern German govern
ment, with its capital at Leipzig, is
reported reliably to be in the MAX
ing now. This will be the prelimi-
nary step by Moscow in its action, in
the course of this year, to persuade
the Germans to accept, against the
edjcts of the Western powers, such
government as legitimate and rep
resentative of the German people.
Nobody knows what means the
Soviets may use to eliminate the
Western occupation of Germany. 1t
is highly improbable that strong
arm methods will be used. Accord
ing to rumors in the Reich, a
change of regime in France, where
the Communists have high hopes Of
being in the saddle this year, might
cause the French to withdraw from
Germany. -.
Because of the tremendous impor-
lance of France in Western EW ope,
the Moscow Politburo has ordered