Evening star., 1949-08-13
Reported Reasoning
On French Reanning
Battles Imagination
Soviet Seem Likely to Draw
Germany Into Her Orbit
By Rise of Poris Power
By Dorothy Thompson

Walter Lippmann advanced a
significant theory last week re-
garding the rearmament of
France, according to which it is
aimed, not at Russia, but at Ger
many.
Admitting that there is no pos
sibility of matching the mex
haustible armies Of the Soviet
Union by European ground forces,
and that the check on Soviet ag-
gression is only the knowledge
that an attack on Western Europe
will mean war with America, Mr..
Lippmann reports that the real
reason for French rearmament-
which, has not hitherto been
stated publicly"-is Ito prepare
for a German settlement when
the occupying armies withdraw.
Then, the Germans will have to
be allowed a military force sub
ject to safety limitations, and
"it will be essential /. . that there
should exist French army Sutfi-
GENTLY large to enforce the Ger
man treaty and contain the Ger
man military revival"
II Mr.. Lippmann is reporting
correctly. this strategy battles the
imagination. If the object OF re-
armament is to contain Germany
it could be accomplished, not by
an Atlantic pact but by Russo
French alliance. Nations cannot
arm for conflicting purposes. II
the purpose of the Atlantic Pact
is to discourage Soviet aggression,
then Germany must Cd be kept
entirely unarmed. her defense
guaranteed by the Atlantic Pact
through clear warning that an
attack on Germany. or any re-
arming of Germans, will be con-
sidered an act of war, or CD de-
plomacy must seek full integra-
ton of Germany into the Western
Union.
Steering Toward Trouble.
If, however, Germany is evacu-
ated and allowed to have any
armys while France is charged to
keep her military revival con-
tanned" we are steering toward
trouble. For the military contain
ment of Germany will not be de-
cided by France. but by Russia,
now. as in the '20s, when Russia
encouraged Germany to break the
Treaty of Versailles.
The French attempt in 1922 to
reoccupy the Ruhr was met by a
solid resistance of the entire Ger
man nation and general strike.
It would be so met if it were at
tempted again after evacuation.
and whether Germany .pr France
then won would be determined by
the Soviets and without their
moving a single Russian division.
The moment Germany is soy-
ereign state with an army, how
ever small, that state will concen-
trate on nberating the nation from
the unequal restrictions imposed
by the victors. Since these are
divided into hostile camps the
German state will bargain be-
tween them.
Since the Western victors have
offered Germany no self-respect-
ing place in the Western family,
the rebirth of German national
ism Is occurring at an alarming
rate.
whereas the wars end found
many German leaders eager to
collaborate for European solu-
ton" perpetual Illustration has
driven even these into extreme ma
tionalism.
Among former Nazis and mem
bers Of the old army there is q
strong tendency toward a pro-
Russian orientation, once Ger
many is strong enough to have
some bargaining power. There
fore, to rearm Germany to any
degree while leaving her free to
choose, and while continuing TO
close the doors to free and equal
cooperation with the West, is to
turn the nationalist-liberation tide
toward Kremlin protection. And
If France is unable to defend mel =
self against Russia. she Is equally
unable to defend herself against
q Germany with Russia's protec-
ton.
Provisions Already Broken.
The legal provisions of the peace
treaty will founder on power poll
tics. Hungary has already broken
the military provisions OF the
treaty. If France-rearmed by
America-should advance into
Germany because of breach OF
treaty, it is predictable that Rus
sia would denounce the action as
american Imperialism" and ex-
tend aid to Germans as friendly
neutrality"
Then what would the United
States do? Precipitate war with
the Soviets over the question OF
whether France has the perpetual
right to dominate Germany. while
Russia advertises the equal free
dom of all nations?
The object of the Soviet Union
is to accomplish her political OBJ
jectives in Europe without invok-
ing the Atlantic Pact. If she draws
Germany into her orbit she will
have accomplished them. And If