Evening star., 1953-08-25
The Struggle for Germany

Despite the hollow hypocrisy in Premier
Malenkovs weekend broadcast on Germany
and the sham generosity contained in the
concessions which the Kremlin is making to
East Germany, the Soviet bid for German pub
lie favor should not be taken lightly.
Geographically, Germany is the heartland
Of the European continent. It's industrial ca
pacity and it's military potential have been
proved and its alignment with one side or the
other in the cold war could be decisive as far
as the future of Europe is concerned. To Ger
mans. East or West, no issue is so important
as unifcation of the country, and successful
struggle for German favor must be directed
toward an end to partition.
Chancellor Adenauer is a staunch friend
of alliance with the West and it is safe to be-
lieve that a great majority of the population
of the Federal Republic concurs in this feeling.
1t has been under the leadership of DR.. Ade-
nauer that West Germany has recorded its will
ingnesS to become a member of the European
Defense Community. But the EDO remains only
a blueprint today because the very nations
which would benefit most by German contri-
button to Western defense primarily France
have failed thus far to ratify the treaty. 1t has
been under DR.. Adenauer's leadership, also,
that West Germany has staged an impressive
comeback economically and induStrially. But
this very revival has created an urgent need
for new and greater markets-Some of which
are historically and conveniently located to the
East.
West Germany is approaching national
election on September 6. It is generally pre-
dicted that DR.. Adenauer'S party will retain its
control, but Mr.. Malenkov picked his time and
his theme shrewdly when he conjured up the
ghost of German militariSm in the shroud of
the EDO commitment and when he spoke his
siren words of friendship and increased trade
with Germanys neighbors to the East.
In its concessions to East Germany, the
Kremlin is attempting to turn adversely into
advantage The riots and disorders which have
occurred this summer in the CommuniSt-con-
troled zone must have surprised and disturbed
the Moscow government. It could have coun-
tered these developments by purges and an
even more iron-handed rule of the puppet gov
ernment It has chosen instead to treat with
its stooges in East Berlin, capital of the So
called Democratic Republic, as if they were free
and independent partners. 1t proposes now to
dignity this partnership by an exchange of
ambassadors to end reparations payments,
wipe out debts, reduce occupation costs and
return prisoners and properties
Through this formula, the Soviet Union
makes another bid for acceptance of its scheme
for the unihcation of Germany by creation of
an alderman government, without free elec-
tions and in which its Communist servants
representing minority Of the German people
would hold rank and status equal to that of
the West German members.
Whether or not the Kremlin has helped it's
cause in either section of Germany, its actions
of the week end make it clear that it is at
tempting again to take the offensive in the
battle for German favor and the demonstration
should not be accepted complacently by the
Western powers The stakes are too high to
permit such luxury.