Evening star., 1949-11-06
Improved FrenCh-German
Relations Held Unlikely
New Regime of West Republic Willing to
Collaborate, But Paris Politicians
= Block Such Defensive Move
By constontine Brown

BY Constol
BERLIN tBy AirmaiD This
German Reich and the second Il
symbol for all Europeans.
Berlin is an example Of wha
continent If Western leaders do
hatreds, jealousies and suspicious
defense Of Western civilization.
Unless this happens-and quickly
Europe will fall prey to
the Asiatic master minds in Mos
COW.
The Russians appear to be on
the defensive right now. They are
formulating new plans to replace
those which miScarried last year.
It is essential for the Western
powers. which rely so heavily on
economic, political and
military support. to take advan-
tage of this breathing spell and,
instead of squabbling with each
other. to realize that Western Eu-
ropes Eastern frontier Is not at
the Rhine but the Elbe and that
Germany must be taken into the
defensive setup which we have
been creating for the last two
years.
Americans who bear the respon-
sibility for the defense of what
many at home call American
outpost" feel SO strongly about
the necessity Of an early political
understanding between French
and Germans that they give this
problem top priority.
Perfectins Weapons
High-ranking American military
and civilian officials feel there is
little likelihood Of Russia unleash
ing an attack in the very near
future. that is within the next
few months. But they are equal
~ convinced that the Moscow
Politburo. like all great dictator
ships, can never adopt q static
policy. It must always be dyna-
mic. that Is to say, aggressive.
Information available here
which differs little from that
available in Washington - in
dicates that Moscow is taking
stock of the new situation created
by the failure Of the blockade Of
Berlin and by the restlessness in
the satellite countries which fol-
lowed Marshal Tito's disaffection.
Moscow is mending its political
fences and is perfecting speedily
but without fanfare - such
weapons as the atomic bomb. the
VS. rocket which the Germans
blueprinted but never produced,
big snorkel submarines and heavy
bombers and long-range Jet escort
planes.
On the few occasions when
American and Russian military
men meet-sslch as the reception
given In Berlin. July II by the
French occupation commander
the Russians put on their best
smiles and appearances Of
friendliness. Such amicable be-
havior worries Dur military men
more than when the Russians
frown and talk sarcastically.
Unless all our observers in this
theater are completely wrong, the
Russians are merely marking
time and we may be faced with a
sudden and determined change
of policy which might come as a
surprise to people at home but
would surprise nobody here.
During the present lull 1t is es-
sential that the French. who are
the chief stumbling block to con-
structiye policy toward Germany,
should understand that they must
take the initiative and extend q
friendly hand to the Germans.
This will not be easy, considering
the political situation tn France.
where no stable government is- ex-
pected to exist for long time,
certainly not before another gen.
eral election.
Political Standby
''The German menace" is al
ways q perfect topic for the run
Of f-mine political demagogues in
France. Whenever they are in q
tight spot or wish to show them
selves as the devoted keepers OF
the heritage Of the 1883, revolu-
ton, they cook, up well-worded
statements about the threat from
across the Rhine and their deter
mination to crush any attempt by
Germany to raise its head again.
The French masses, which have
been educated IN the fear Of Ger
many and have bitter memories
less than 10 years old, applaud
and cheer. They do not think OF
the Germans useful menu
bers Of the Western bloc Of which
we are the principal support.
So long as French politicians
can use the German menace to
catch. q few votes there is little
likelihood that conditions win
change. They are blind to the fact
that Europe risks losing every
thing unless the Western nations
Join hands and cooperate for
the common defense.
The ranks and file in France
knows only that In the last 80
years the, country has been In
vaded three times by the Germans,
It must be added here that the
masses IN France remember that
Russia has fought them only
twice. first when it joined In the
defeat Of Napoleon and second
IN the Crimean War. Since the
Crimean War Russia and France
frequently have stood together.
3 Frenchmen forget that the auto
cratic rulers Of, Russia are not
those Of 1859. An overwhelming
Of Frenchmen still believe
It was Stalinsrad and not the