Evening star., 1949-11-29
The German Arms Problem

AS preface to their participation In
this weeks Paris talks on the preparedness
of the Atlantic Pact nations, Defense Sec
retary Johnson and General Bradley,
chairman of our Joint Chiefs of Staff, have
been at pains to emphasize that official
American policy is opposed to the idea OF
rearming Germany.
The policy has already been formalized
in the agreement just worked out by
France, Britain and the United States with
Chancellor Adenauer's government at
Bonn. Among other things, that agree
ment specifically pledges the West German
Federal Republic "to endeavor by all means
in its power to prevent the recreation OF
armed forces of any kind"
This ban against rearmament Is based on
several important considerations, chief
among them being the following: Cd The
French peoples justifable fears of re-
surgent militarism in an intensely nation
alistic country whose armed forces have
invaded their land three times within
the past 80 years; ca the justifiability
the strength of the record of Germany's
past totalitarianism, its ruthlessness and
It's aggressions-of similar fears through
out the western World as whole; and (3)
the very real possibility that on some
future day, after the signing OF a peace
treaty and the withdrawal of occupation
troops a new unified Reich, in keeping
with historic German tendency, may ally
itself with the Kremlin for the conquest
of all Europe, either as an equal partner or
a puppet of the Soviet Union.
Nevertheless, although these and similar
considerations are certainly most persua-,
sive, there is reason to question the wisdom
of the decision to require total disarma-
ment of the Bonn government. At any
rate, in terms of realism, the requirement
seems difficult to reconcile with, reports
that Russia is converting satellite Eastern
Germany's native police into an army of
$50, 900 men to be placed under the COM
mand of Soviet marshal. How will the
wholly disarmed West Germans be able
to protect themselves from coup by this
puppet force If, as and when the Kremlin
withdraws its occupation troops? II such
a withdrawal takes place, France, Britain
and the United States will find 1t difficult
at least from the propaganda standpoint
to continue occupying their zones, but how
can they pull out without at the same time
exposing completely demilitarized Bonn to
the danger Of being overthrown by Mos
cows armed East Germans?
Although this danger may not constitute
good argument against the basic theory
and long-range purpose Of the Anglo
French disarmament decision, 1t
at least raises questions about what is
realistic and unrealistic in the light Of
current Russian policy. Events move fast.
In the not too distant future, some meas
ure of West Germany rearnning- strictly
limited and controlled by the nations in
the Atlantic Pact conceivably may be
found prudent, even by France.
Yet, if that proves to be the case, there
will still be the grave and complex problem
of guarding against the eventual revival
of militarism IN Germany. There are no
easy solutions. As long as the Kremlins
policy remains unchanged, the situation.
with the Germans seeking to serve them
selves by playing one side against the
other-will be difficult and explosive not
merely for the West but for Russia as well.