Evening star., 1952-12-21
Thomas Mann Living in West
As Loyal Son, He Emphasizes
Novelist Complains
His Viennu Remarks
Were Reported Wrong
BY the Associated Press

were Kepofte0 wrong
BY the Assoeioted Press
ZURICH, Switzerland, Dec. 20.
Thomas Mann, Nobel prize
winning author. says he lives in
the Western world through choice.
that 1t Is mot merely a coinci-
dence. a mistake, or an accident"
II live in the West as the loyal
son of the Occident, because it
pleases me to degree and be-
cause in spite of everything,
hope to end my life's work here. "
he said in written statement.
Corrects False Impression.
He contended his reported fail
ure to respond to a question at a
Vienna news conference last
month falsely presented him as
"a disloyal American. a disloyal
European and a disloyal member
of democracy"
The 77-year-old novelist, was
driven from his native Ger
many by Nazi persecution and
became an American citizen, re-
ferred to an Associated Press story
of November 18 which said:
Pressed by newspapermen what
political system he favored-that
IN the United States or that be-
hind the Iron Curtain, Mann de-
clined to answer"
Never Heard Question.
MIR. Mann said the question was
one that was never asked me
and that ! never heard"
The Associated Press account
OF the news conference did not
differ from those published in
Vienna newspapers and broad
casts. Kurt Hampe, the Associated
Press representative who was pres
ent, commented:
I'm such cases it would seem
more likely the great man himself
erred or was forgetful, as great
men sometimes are"
Mr.. Hampe said the question
was asked by Peter Weiser, CORE
spondent of the Red -White-Red
radio network in Vienna, as fol-
lows:
But don't you think that demo-
cratic government of Western de-
sign Is to be preferred a thousand
times to those other forms of gov
eminent we have learned to know
as peoples democracies during the
last few years?"
Asked to Refrain.
The reply was:
Young friend, permit me to re-
frain from answering your ques-
tion."
In his statement, Mr.. Mann said
he was going to answer this ques-
ton more concisely. more directly
and more brutally frankly"
Il live in the West" he said
and this is not merely a coin
cidence, mistake. or an accident
I live in the West as the loyal son
OF the Occident, because it pleases
me to a degree and because in
spite of everything. I hope to end
my life's work here. If knew of
a system which I prefer to our
sadly mangled and highly endan-
gered democracy, I would take of
today and place myself at its
disposal"
Il He added:
NJ Il am an American citizen. AS
such it would never occur to me
even If there were no press
to speak abroad in an unfriendly,
let alone disparaging, manner
about country which is my own
and with which I remain united
although, as 1t is getting very late,
I have the urgent desire to re-
establish and cultivate the con-
tact with the old soil of Europe
If this desire is in any way dis
graceful, then I have all my life
misunderstood the meaning of
that word.
Expects No Rest.
However, in this world which
has been smashed into two bleed
ing camps, there is no end to the
misunderstanding. the shopping
the Slandering, the suspicious and
the denunciations. And therefore
I. too, will probably have no rest
to the end Of my days."
Mr.. Mann did not dispute that
. he had criticized what he consid-
cred dangers to democracy at the
news conference. He was quoted
as saying at that time: Freedom
of opinion is rather restricted at
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