Evening star., 1950-05-21

mOlnlng the coal ana steel lnduS-
requests of the present govern
ment," said Won Blomberg, you
will have Hitler in less than
year-and he is crazy. He will
rearm Germany without the con-
sent Of the other nations and will
wage war
These prophetic words, unfor-
tunately. were more than fully
accomplished.
Mr., Schuman knows that in
some form or another-hiStory
does repeat itself. He is aware,
like most Allied observers in
Germany. that while the German
people. by and large, are strongly
opposed to Russia and its doc
trineS, there is strong poSSi-
bility that Moscow. playing on tho
nationalism Of the German people.
might induce them to join the
East as the only way to re-create
a strong Germany. He knows
equally that psychologically this is
the moment to bring Western
Germany into the concert OF the
free world.
The overwhelming number OF
Germans today are in favor Of
Joining the West. The strong
nationalist movement, which Is
more than noticeable in the for
mer Reich. still can be Offset by
the pam European idea. which is
shared by so many thinking Ger
mans. In that country. where
the people follow authority" like
sheep. the inclusion of the Reich
in liberal or neo-Socialistic
Europe would have a SUFFICIENT
appeal to ward of possibility OF
its inclusion in a jingoistic.
nationalist Russia.
All this is strongly in the mind
of Mr.. Shuman and his views are
shared to great extent by our
own State Department. Fourteen
months in the State Department
have changed somewhat the
strong idea of Secretary Of State
Acheson about the mental caliber
of military men. Mr. Acheson.
who at first treated professional
soldiers with ill-disguised scorn.
has come to realize that in these
days of cold war, their views are
not to be set aside lightly. Pro-
fessional soldiers of the Atlantic
pact nations suggest the defense
of Europe.
Alliance Necessary
Western generals at first favored
getting along with Russia and did
not object to a number OF appease-
ment steps to keep Russia friendly.
But once Moscow showed what
1t actually had In mind, they,
quietly urged a policy to counter-
act Soviet expansionist dreams.
To men who are accustomed to
plan military operations and are
aware that no undue chances must
be taken. the idea OF having a
large section of Western Europe
left as a norman s-land was re-
garded as foolish.
The existence Of a front in
length without depth invites dis
aster. The Germans have the
manpower and the know-how Of
war. Without much additional
training. Germany can provide at
least 100000 men for active duty.
1t will be difficult. OF course, TO
make civilians in Europe and
America swallow the idea OF con-
verting our enemies of five years
ago into allies and associates in a
common defense.
There are still people in this
country and Western Europe who.
foolishly, fear the German more
than they fear the Russians and
their Asiatic associates. Deep
seated projudices and hatreds
cannot be removed easily, particu-
larly in favor OF military consider
ations. Spain, with It's anti
Communist record and It's Wiling
ness to collaborate in the defense
against Moscow. is a typical ex-
ample of how blind mass psychol-
ogy can be.
Cautious Progress
One Of the foreign ministers
gathered in London has spoken
loudly about the inclusion OF Ger
many in the Western defense sys-
tenn. Even today, when the free
world is so greatly threatened by
another war. there are many who
would balk at the idea of total in
tegration of all the forces which
believe in freedom. Hence. the
matter is being approached
gingerly.
The pooling Of French and Ger
man coal and steel industries Is
only the first step toward other
far more spectacular develop
ments which may take place this
year and which will culminate in
the creation of an actual resist
ance front in Europe.
The optimism that this will
finally be brought about il
dampened only by the fear that
mass psychology, cleverly exploit
ed by the large number Of politi-
cal subversives. pulling for Rus
sia. will interfere with the plans
for global defense against COM
Mr.. Schuman Is on the right
track and his views are fully sup
ported by this Government. The
British consider possible economic
competition from German
French combine a greater threat
than the Kremlin and are stiil
nesitant. But they are expected
10 fall into line soon.
The first step toward the ac-
,omplishment Of the great plan
Tor economic and military inte-
yration of Western r,rana al