Evening star., 1953-05-03

treaty. But these restrictions
like the prohibition on the Ger
man Army-have been outdated
by subsequent international de-
velopments. They can be ex-
pected to go by the board in
the not-too- distant future.
The fear of Germany, which
is still one of the primary po-
litical facts in Europe today, goes
hand in hand with the hope. It
is the fear of people who have
watched this process before and
who have suffered because OF 1t.
Much as he may recognize the
need for German strength, and
much as he may dread the Rus
slams, it is impossible for the
average European to contemplate
what is happening in Germany
without some misgiving. This is
not hard to understand: Even
the most optimistic American
can get a creepy feeling from
the picture that this country
presents.
Apart from the clear fact that
Germany, with the approval and
even the help of her former enc
mics. is rapidly returning to a
position of domination in Eu-
rope, there are many unanswered
questions.
How strong is Germany's pres
ent democratic leadership?
How serious is the threat of
a reviving nationalist move
ment?
What will be the political
pressures caused by the division
of the country and the presence
in West Germany of millions of
East German refugees?
Questions Being DOdged.
There is a tendency in Europe
to duck these questions and 9TH
ers like them. There is the feel
ing that what is going on in
Germany is kind of inevitable
process which cannot and should
not be interferred with. There
also is the feeling that it is
enough to solve today's problems
without worrying too much about
those that may arise tomorrow.
Nevertheless, the questions are
being asked by many people, in
Guiding a number of thoughtful
Germans.
On the surface there is reason
for optimism. The infant gov
eminent at Bonn has made a
good record for itself under the
vigorous and determined leader
ship of Chancellor Adenauer.
There has been ready conf
pliance with the broad aim of
Western European solidarity, de-
spite last weeks action of the
Bundesrat delaying ratification
of the European Defense COM
munity treaty.
In its internal policy, the
coalition of conservative and
right-Wing parties has many
features which strike a SYM
pc thetic note in the United
States. There is general approval
of the Governments free-enter-
prise economic line, its Systems-
tic removal of controls and IT'S
encouragement of investment by
a policy of tax reduction.
No one can doubt the devo-
ton of Germany's present lead
ers to the idea of a new and
democratic Reich. Even DR..
Adenauer's bittereSt political
enemies are willing to concede
the fact that a sincere effort is
being made to cultivate the best
in the German political charac-
ter.
There is a doubt, however,
and Germans will discuss it
frankly-that the roots of the
democratic idea go very deep.
Ilc ICL AAdl PCOPIC U4ACAAoC1fCoB
since the war. seem to have
taken little interest in the gov
ernment and to feel little per-
sonal stake in what is going on
in Bonn. AS long as Germany
remains in the status of a de-
feated and occupied country, and
as long as major policy decisions
taken by the government are
subject to approval by the occu-
pying powers, there will be no
reliable indication of the real
political temper of the German
people.
Old Nationalist Dangers.
There is more worry over the
revival of extreme nationalism
in politics than most reports
have indicated. The tendency to
play down the Importance of the
evidence is natural, in view of
the obstacle that German ma