The Key West citizen., 1954-12-28
The
World
Today
BY JAMES MARLoW
Associated Press News AnaIvst

WASHlNGTON REThe French
legislators today wrestle with their.
conscience and their temperament
in a final vote On whether to let
West Germany rearm. They voted
against it Friday They can re-
verse themselves today.
The vote is on a plan which,
while letting Germany rearm, is
intended to keep her from becom-
ing a menace to her neighbors
again.
Under this plan a rearmed Ger
many would be brought into NATO
the North Atlantic Treaty Or
ganization - which now has IA
members, including the United
States, Britain, France.
The NATO nations have a Joint
military staff planning the defense
OF Western Europe against Rus
sla. And NATO would have juris-
dlctlon over a Germany rearmed.
France, as NATO member,
therefore have a say-so.
The French conscience
The French naturally fear the
Germans who have invaded them
three times in less than 100 years.
They fear what Germany, once it
became a military power, might
do again.
The present French fears in the
end may be justified. A number
OF things could happen: NATO it.
self might break up; Germany
might turn from the West and
make a deal with Russia. Other
events could pull Germany from
under NATO'S thumb.
But the reason France is in
NATO is to create a defense
against Russia. The French know
NATO would be stronger with
Germany in it. They have the
problem of choosing between fu.
ture fears and present strength.
The United States and Britain
both want Germany in NATO.
Both want the French Assembly
to approve. After last weeks mo"
vote, Britain in effect told the
French: Germany is going to re-
army anyway, with or without
French approval.
The Eisenhower administration,
which didn't 60 as far publicly,
no doubt thinks the same.
If the United States and Britain
help Germany rearm, it may have
to be done in way which pro.
videS for no control or jurisdic-
ton. That provides another prob
lem for the French:
Although they fear the Ger.
mans, is it better to let them have
guns, so long as they're under
NATOs eye, than to sit back and
watch them get guns with perhaps
no controls?
Although the French seem un.
willing or unable to face the fact
trey no longer are a major world
power, they nevertheless enjoy a
senior partnership in the Western
world with the United States and
Britain.
They may lose that seniority,
sliding down the international
totem pole to a truly secondary
position. if they vote mo" and the
United States and Britain rearm
the Germans independently of
France.
But France has a card here:
They know the United States and
Britain can't turn their backs on
France altogether She's too i'm
portant to Western defense and
alliance.
The French temperament
The French, torn among them
selves, were no match for Ger.
many in 1910. They are still torn
among themselves. The new en-.
emy is Russia. They played into
Russia's hands by voting mo" last
week. The Russians have worked
overtime trying to wreck the plans
for rearming Germany.
Even in a time of danger like
this it would be understandable,
If not excusable, IL Fridays vote.
was a matter Of conscience only.
1t wasn't. France is split seven
ways to Sunday with political
parties and cliques.
In Fridays vote there was a lot
of political conniving against the
French Premier, Mendes-France,
who asked for a rearmed Ger.
many. He is the strongest Pre-
rlier since the war. the only one
who seems to have had a sturdy
sense of direction.
II today's vote is still against
rearming Germany, bringing with
il the fall of Mendes- Frances gov
eminent, the French will start
stumbling and drifting again, look