Evening star., 1950-08-24
Soviet Pushes Ahead
German Plans, While
West Allies Negotiate
By John M. Hightower
Asseclated Press Stoff Writer

NsSOSi0IeO TISSS SiolI VTHoT
Soviet Russia is believed here to
be pushing ahead well-laid plans
for the political and military de-
velopment of Eastern Germany
while Western leaders negotiate
on strengthening the defenses of
their sector.
Informed diplomats said today
there is now evidence that the
Soviets have split their so-called
police force" in Germany into
two organizations one being
trained in actual police work and
the other being given regular
army training and armored equip
ment without further pretense Of
police" activity.
Since Germany, like Korea, is a
divided nation. there is top-level
speculation that the aim of this
Soviet move may be an ultimate
Korea-type assault; that is, an ac-
ton by native Communist troops
against the western occupation
zones with unification of the
country as a fighting slogan.
Two Moves Necessary.
If this is to be the Russian pat
tern-and assuming the Kremlin
would risk starting a major war
experts here expect Moscow will
first undertake to give Eastern
Germany a pretense of legal in
dependence comparable to that of
Communist North Korea.
Two moves would be necessary
to do this.
First, the Russians would have
to conclude some sort of peace
treaty with the East German |
Communist regime. Second, they
would have to withdraw their oc-
cupation forces.
They would then be in position
to give orders through Communist
Party channels while disclaiming
responsibility for the actions of
their puppets. Also, their troops
would be out of the way of any
shooting.
Part of the answer to this
threat, in the opinion of policy
makers here, is to build up the
native defenses of Western Ger
many and to do so on a scale ade-
quate to deal with any limited
German trouble-making from the
east.
How and when to undertake
this controlled rearming of West
ern Germany is problem of in
tense concern to the Western
powers. Initial decisions may be
made when the United States.
British and French foreign min
listers meet in New York Septem-
ber IL.
Russia Moves in Secret.
The development of measures to
offset Russia's strategy is i'm
mensely complicated by a need for
international understanding. Rus
sla's moves are decided in secrecy
and in the last analysis by one
man, but Western decisions must
be agreed to by sharply differing
governments, each with an eye to
what its own people will support.
Even within the administration
here there has to be agreement
among the State and Defense de-
partments and White House before
the United States can take def
mite stand.
Several lines of possible action
are under intensive study. They
include creating substantially
larger German police force, rein
forcing the British American
French occupation armies and
drawing on German manpower to
bolster Western European forces.
At news conference yesterday
Secretary of State Acheson did
not rule out any of these possi-
bilitieS. Yet he was deliberately
vague about indicating what may
be done. He appeared to be try
ing to soft-pedal the whole sub
juct pending some understanding
with other Allied leaders as to
action.
Frances traditional reluctance
to see Germans given arms again.
even under controls, is the big
gest single barrier to quick deci-
sion.
On the German side Chancellor
Adenauer is understood to bel
pressing for agreement among
the parties inside Germany on
support of an enlarged German
police force. Reports from Bonn
say he wants $4,000 men. This
would have to be approved by the
occupation powers. If
The task of a police force would
be to deal with Communist SUBJ
version and political trouble
making undertaken by the East