Evening star., 1953-08-09

West German Chancellor Konrad
Adenauer and Sir Winston Churchill
both have spoken recently OF the
problem of "reconciling the security
of Russia with the freedom and
safety of Western Europe" to use
the Prime Minister'S words. Chan
cellor Adenauer went so far as to
propose that the West conclude a
non-aggression pact with Soviet
Russia.
Now that the initial hurt surprise
has subsided, many Of us have been
left with memories Of post-World
War days, when Germany partici-
pated in another security treaty with
the West-the Locarno pact-while
at the same time concluding nom
aggression agreement with Russia in
Berlin in 1926. The Berlin treaty
was more or less a continuation OF
the so-called Rapallo treaty Of 1922.
which Germany and Russia negotl-
ated in secret while Germany and
other Western European countries
were working out the Locarno pact.
From Right and Left
In the present Germany many
important political elements are
against joining the European de-
fense community because it would
mean closing the door to Germany's
greatest neighbor-the y. S. S. r.
Not only the Social Democrats on
the left oppose the European de-
fense community pact. Many warn
ing voices are heard on the right,
some of them very close to the gov
ernment party of DR.. Adenauer. In
this respect history is repeating it
self, since the Locarno treaty OF
the 1920s was hotly opposed by Ger
man Communists as much as by the
German National Party.
Today Social Democrats and
rightists believe that DR.. Adenauer's
policy of exclusive friendship with
the West is definitely harmful to
German national aspirations. Ade-
nauer's foes insist that reuniflcation
of Eastern and Western Germany
should be the very first aim and
natural duty of any German. And
as long as Eastern Germany is firm
ly in the hands of the Russians or
their puppet government, many
Germans assume that there is no
other way to get the reunif1cation,
short of war, than some kind of
agreement with Russia. 1t is obvious
to Germans that the U. S. S. r. will
not agree unless assured that Ger
many will not join forces against 1t.
A pact of friendship, or at least of
non-aggression along the lines Of the
treaties of Berlin and Rapallo Is
apparently in the minds Of both
Russians and Germans. With Rus
sian policy clearly indicating that
reunif1cation could not be achieved
without or against Russian will,
opponents to DR.. Adenauer's con-
cept of joining the West are gaining
ground.
But unification Of Germany, how
ever important, Is not the only
strong German aspiration coloring
the present scene. There are several
groups in Germany insisting that
the only right foreign policy is one
of friendly relations with the
u. S. S. r., in preference to friend
ship with the West.
NodoIny's Line
This is the line which was so
vehemently advocated by the late
Count R. Nadolny and his small but
influential group, composed of high
state officials and politicians. The
count was a firm believer in Bis
marck's foreign policy of friendship
with Russia. AS the Iron Chancel-
lor of Prussia before him, Count Ma
dolny's first diplomatic assignment
was in Czarist Russia. He has
never since stopped urging Russian
German cooperation. In 1888,
when Hitler contemplated basing
his policy on friendship with Russia,
he sent Nadolny as Ambassador to
the q. s. s.. r. But with Hitler's
change Of mind Nadolny's policy was
abandoned, at least up to the Molo-
tov-Ribbentrop pact Of 1899. After
world War II, Count Nadolny was
oCaave again, pleading for friendly
EeAAt1ons with the q. 8. 8. r. as the
snlv policy which could restore Ger