Evening star., 1949-08-18
Germany and Free Europe

High CommiSSioner-design John j.
McCloys statement that he agrees Gin
principle" with the idea of admitting the
Federal Republic of West Germany into
the Council of Europe spotlights matter
of cardinal Importance, not only for Ger
many but also for Europe and ourselves.
Indeed, the matter transcends that of
Council membership. It involves the en-
tire question of German refrigeration into
the fabric of the Western democratic world
Mr.. McCloy indicated these wider aspects
when he went on to advocate speedy in
corporation of the German Republic into
the Office of European Economic Co
operation, so that it may have its own say
in the ALLEGATION of Marshall Plan aid.
This is obviously a question sthat must be
squarely faced. Virtually all of Europe
outside the Soviet orbit is striving to CO.
ordinate itself, with American aid, against
the threat of Communist aggression stem
ming from Moscow. That coordination,
while including Strategic and political fac
tors, is primarily economic. But it is gen.
orally accepted that Western Germany
must be included in the economic setup If
recovery and stability of Free Europe is to
be attained. Western Germany has now
emerged from the no-man's land of state
lessneSs into at least partial recovery Of
self-government and responsibility. The
recent elections showed popular verdict
for Western ideas and methods, especially
in the preference for the economic system
of free enterprise to which America is
dedicated and also to which most of the
countries of the West European continent
still adhere. This, together with the pop
ular Endorsement of federal form Of
government as embodied in the platform
of the victorious Christian Democrats,
should 60 far toward allaying French fears
and insuring French support for German
refrigeration. The German Christian DEM
ocratic Party, representing moderate con-
servative elements. largely Roman Catho-
lie but also Protestant, is close counter
part of similar parties which now predomi-
nate in France, Italy and Belgium. It is
significant that Conrad Adenauer, presum-
ably the Christian Democrat premier of
the coming Federal Cabinet, is on close
mann of France, the leader of the corre-
spending French party. .
The desirability of prompt German
refrigeration would seem to be indicated
by the parallel of a generation ago, after
World War I. The issue then was Ger
manys entry into the nascent League of
Nations. Germany had just reorganized
itself under the Weimar Republic, a
regime founded on democratic principles
and ready to accept the peace treaty and
responsibilities hereunder. American
opinion favored entry, and so, with reser-
vations, did Britain. But the France of
Clemenceau was strongly opposed until
the new Germany had proved" its SINGER
ity and dependability. So seven long years
were to elapse before Germany was ad-
mitted to the League in 1926. BY then,
it was too late for this move to have its
maximum effect. The seeds of Hitlerism
had already been widely sown.
OF course, historical parallels are never
identical. Yet the similarity is close enough
| to disclose the disadvantages and dangers
| of holding the new German Federal Re-
! public at arms length and insisting on a
prolonged probationary" period. This
| would be grist for the propasandas alike