Evening star., 1950-05-26
Berlin at Whitsuntide

It does not appear now that the leaders Of
the Communist dominated Free German Youth"
will carry out their earlier threats to stage kind
of putsch, this Whitsuntide week end, against
the Western sectors Of Berlin. A couple of months
ago, with much brazenness and braggadocio,
they were serving notice that they would head
up a march of no fewer than 100000 young
people who would defy all barriers and sweep
through the entire city in gigantic demonstra-
tion suggestive of mob coup. Today, however,
the story is quite different: The big show it
seems, is to be confined solely to the Eastern Red
zone, special precautions having been taken by
its directors (or so they have announced) to
keep the thing from spilling over into forbidden
territory.
In all probability the chief reason for this
changed tune is the hrmness displayed by the
Western Powers in warning the Free German
Youth" not to try any funny business. Thus,
early in March, in response to series of threat
full Communist boasts, the Anglo-French-
American military commandants jointly pro-
claimed that they would resort to every necessary
MISUNDERSTANDING physical force-to prevent
the demonstrators from crossing over into the
areas closed to them. Then, late last month, in
a solemn, no-fooling confirmation of that proc
lamation, high official of our Governments
man generally identified as Secretary of State
Acheson-declared anonymously, but with OBJ
viouS authoritativenesS, that the United States,
Britain and France were firmly resolved to do
the following: First to use fire hoses and tear
gas against the marchers if they attempted to
move in on West Berlin, and then-if that failed
to stop them-to use machine guns, artillery and
other death-dealing weapons.
These two clear warnings-every word of
them meant-apparently have been taken to
heart by the German Communist leaders, includ-
ing the obnoxious Gerhart Eisler, the East zones
propaganda chief 1t seems safe to assume,
moreover. that the men of the Kremlin-the
real instigators of this Whitsuntide project
have been sobered by our Western firmness. In
deed if they were not sobered by it, their puppets
in Berlin would not now be backtracking COM
pletey from the kind of march that was loudly
threatened only relatively short time ago. OF
course, since what the Reds say can never be
taken at face value, and since there is explosive
content in any great gathering of youths there
is still the possibility that grave trouble may
break out over the week end. Our Anglo French
American forces, however, have been alerted to
cope with just such contingency, and the stu
alton at the moment indicates that order will
be maintained and that the whole business will
run its course peacefully enough.
But no matter how non-violent it may turn
out to be, this Whitsuntide demonstration
which has been opened with preliminary show
staged by 10000 boys and girls in the 9-to-14
age group-is full of highly disturbing implica-
tions Hundreds of thousands are expected to
take part in it, uniformed and regimented as in
the Nazi heyday, but this time heiling Stain
instead of Hitler. Certainly, being Red total-
tarians in the making, they are not to be under
estimated as force potentially most helpful to
the Kremlin's continuing drive for world
domination.