Evening star., 1955-02-18

auer the hour Is very late in
Mr.. Noyes, The Stor's Esropeon CORE
spondent, hos been touring 6eumony
in recent weeks. sounding opinion on
the greet issues confronting our
erstwhile enemies. This is one Of sew
eroI articles in which he reports his
findings.
deed. The man who represents
West Germany to much of the
outside world-on whose per-
sonality and viii much Of the
admiration and many Of the
misconceptions about Germany
depends running a close race
against time to complete his
work.
No wonder that Chancellor
Adenauer should be the persona
fication Of German stability.
Since taking over as head of the
fiedgling West German State in
1948, his policy has never
changed. His rocklike devotion
to the ideal of Western solidarity
made his reputation as the most
powerful supporter Of the Euro
pean Defense Community on the
continent.
It also assured him of some
thing which up to now has been
a priceless asset for any Ger
man politician-the wholehearted
friendship and support Of the
American Government.
Though the dream of EDO has
died, DR.. Adenauer's course has
not wavered. Thkegoal: To bind
West Germany SO closely to the
rest of Western Europe that the
ties can never again be severed.
To the Chancellor and many
others of his generation, Ger
man independence and German
power are the supreme illusions.
The important thing is that the
unhappy past can never be re-
peated.
Close Ties to West.
From the beginning, he has
seen no future for Germany ex-
cept in complete and close CO.
with the West and
particularly with the United
States. AS a substitute for edo
the Chancellor has made no
secret of the fact that the plan
for a coalition of European states
Is disappointingly paNid. And
yet there is no question that
Today he regards the Paris
Treaties and the creation of
Western union as his last will
and testament to the German
people.
There is no question either
that he can get the treaties rati-
fed in Germany whenever he
gives the word. Today, DR.. Ade-
1auer is in the fortunate position
If commanding the most stable
in Europe. His own
Christian Democratic Party holds
IN absolute majority of Bunde-.
'tag seats and, between them,
lis three-party coalition can
probably swing the two-thirds |
majority needed for subsequent |
legislation. Whenever |
le needs it, the Chancellor can
till crack a powerful political
whip # e
Nor is there any evidence that
Der Alte has lost his touch with
he crowd. People who have
watched his performance over
several years still rate DR.. Ade-
lauer as one of the most bril-
liant public speakers of the day.
His hold on an audience is strong
md his simple, direct and some-
What naughty approach wonder
ully effective. /
Some Residual Heils.
"There's a little Fuehrer-
left in every German"
hey say in Bonn. "And the
knows how to reach
t."
And yet, for all his prestige
md power there are obvious
points Of weakness in DR.. Ade-
political position. Not the /
east among them is the striking
of people here who speak
ip to challenge the effectiveness
If the Chancellor's leadership,
lis appreciation of major trends
n German thought-in short, his
,laim to real statesmanship. II |
his criticism were limited to his
political enemies it would be
natural enough. But it is not.
One heretically minded Amer
can describes the Chancellor
IS a "high-grade. Tammany-
ype politicians rough in the
.linches as any you'll find any
The general picture
S of a simple. one Idea -at,a-
lime man with the stubborness
If a mule and the hide Of a
'hinoceros.
According to a commonly held
,iew, this inf1exibility Of the |
Chancellor's - welcome as it
nay have been throughout the
occupation era-has become a
serious political liability today. |
Since the 1858 elections, the
whole complexion of German |
political life has changed. As |
evidence Of the Chancellor's
slipping popularity, recent elec-
ion results in the German
lander are cited in which DR..