Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1952-02-01
OPERATION UNITY;
The Eost-West Struggle Places
Europeans in Political Quundury

cal and moral scars of these con-
ficts.
Much of the physical property
which was destroyed during World
War II has been rebuilt. But the
minds Of the people who have sur
vlved these wars are not rebuilt.
They look with understandable sus-
picion upon alliances, which con-
ceivably could thrust them into an
other war. And yet, at the same
time, they know that their fate Is
completely tied to the democratic
principles of government best per-
sonified today by the United States.
In their attitude toward peace and
war, these people are little different
than Americans. They know, even
better than we do, the high and
horrible price of war. But, somehow,
one senses that they know, too, that
unity must be maintained against
Russian aggression.
Somehow, you feel that they in
stinctively agree with General
Eisenhower, when he says:
Political Federation
IT believe that there will be no
permanent position of serenity and
confidence for the western world as
long as we are confronted with the
Communist menace. As a counter,
there must be created a United
States of-or political federation of
Western Europe; and Western Eu-
rope must include at least Western
Germany, and preferably United
Germany"
Many of the American officials
with whom we spoke sincerely be-
lieve that such a federation of Eu-
ropean countries is the only answer
to the economic and political prob
lens of these countries.
Such union will not come easily,
but the Europeans themselves know
that something other than continu-
ing subsidization by the United
States must be done to give them an
equitable status in the worlds fam
lily of peoples. And it is here, in this
realm of future long-range planning,
that one encounters a European
viewpoint, perhaps not thoroughly
understood or appreciated by the
American taxpayer.
Two Personal Questions
In the early stages of our trip, we
encountered an American business
man, who was primarily concerned
with getting us to find the answers
to his two most important questions:
a. do these people (the Euro
peans) really appreciate what we
are doing for them?" and a. "When
are they going to get "off the back"
OF the American taxpayer"
Appreciation" is hardly the word
for the feeling which most Europe
ans have for the United States, with
regard to the financial and military
assistance which it has rendered.
They know, and say freely and OPEN
ly, that this aid has been their sal
walton. But by and large, these peo-
pie are strongly nationalistic, and
they are not happy with their fate
Of being the recipients of American
"benevolence."
They don't feel that we are
giving" them anything. They feel
that we are buying their partnership
in an alliance against a common
enemy.
They feel, also, that they would
like to have the aid, which we have
been giving them, terminated just
as soon as it is militarily and eco
nomically safe to do so. They feel
that we are buying much with the
money we are spending in Europe.
Many of them are frank to say
that it is much better for America
to have front" against Soviet
Russia located where it is today,
than it would be to have front on
the Atlantic seaboard of the United
States.