Evening star., 1953-09-08
West Germony's Stature Grows

'SSt SCIHOUy SkUG"C 0IOWS
There are many lessons for Europe, on both
sides of the Iron Curtain in the convincing
election victory scored by Chancellor Adenauer
and his Christian Democratic Union in West
Germany on Sunday.
1t means, in sense, that the Federal Re-
public has come of age established itself beyond
doubt as a stable and orderly political entity,
confident of its strength and sure in its purpose.
Dr. AdenauerS triumph did not come because
the Western nations, particularly the United
States, toward whom he has been SO friendly
merely wished it so or because they took certain
steps to enhance his prestige. Neither did it
come merely because the West German voters
are anti-Communist and wished to register their
disapproval of communism within their own
country or of evil Communist designs elsewhere.
1t came because DR.. Adenauer has provided to
people who are rich in many talents, industrious,
diligent and determined leadership that has
been positive and productive.
OF all the nations of continental Europe,
none has moved more impressively toward
economic recovery and stability in the postwar
period than has West Germany. The inherent
capacity of the German people to work hard
and to accept Self-diScipline in the national
interest has served to revive an industrial
plant that was virtually obliterated by war and
to spread its commerce once more around the
world. Accompanying this steady progress on
the economic front has been political growth of
comparably solid quality.
In this postwar period, DR.. Adenauer has
been one of the little band of European states
men most actively dedicated to the philosophy
that the continents hopes for peace and pros
perity rest in unity and integration never
before achieved among powers so often warning
with each other. He has been one of the archi-
in 6roffino 0f hn
Steel Community, the Defense Community and
the projected supranational political authority.
Commanding a coalition government, he has
moved West Germany steadily toward accept
ance of and participation in all of these enter
priseS-even while associated nations have
temporized and delayed and even rejected their
own leaders for supporting such causes He
has been frank and persuasive in his commit
ment that Germany must find its friends in the
West and that it must make it's own contribu-
ton to such friendship.
The West German voters have now made it
abundantly clear that they approve The Com
munistS within West Germany have been utterly
routed, the neo-Nazis have been rebuffed and
the Social Democrats the only other major
party, have lost ground The Free Democratic
Party, conservative partner in the govern
ment coalition, held it's own but for the first
time since the Federal Republic was founded
the Christian Democrats alone will hold ma
jority of seats in the BundeStag. The voting
was an Endorsement that must cause deep con-
Germ to the Kremin and give pause, and per-
haps encouragement, to the wavering political
leaders of France, Italy and others of the West
European group.
With his hand thus strengthened, Dr.
Adenauer can turn now to two major problems
neither easy of solution but each of vital i'm
portance to Germany and the security of the
free world. One is the reunifcation of Ger
many-an objective that may be blocked in
definitely by Soviet unwillingness to release it's
control over East Germany. The other is the
determination of how West Germany is to con-
tribute to West European defense-or possibly
mount one of its own. DR.. Adenauer and his
associates have rejected repeatedly any idea
of establishing a national military force sup
porting instead a participation in the proposed
supranational European army. The West Ger
man commitment to this project, and the ap-
proval now registered by the electorate, may
stir France and Italy to ratification of the plan.
If their reluctance continues, however, the
coming months may see modification or COM
plete abandonment of the project with some
alternative formula devised by which the mill
tary potential of West Germany can be enlisted
for its own protection and as an added element
of power in preserving the security of the free
world.
Lawyers Who Switch Sides
1t is surprising to learn from Attorney