Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-19
Berlin

A few hundred years ago
Berlin was a swamp. When
the Allies took it over, in 1915,
it was a heap of rubble.
Differences between the
West and the Soviets were
apparent even when they
took possession of the city.
What then induced the West
to spend such fabulour sums
to rebuild a city inside of a
Soviet country? 1t seems that
the Western Allies thought
that after the war the Rus
slams would let bygones be
bygoneS and permit Germany
to again become a strong
and powerful nation, with
Berlin as its capital. They
wanted to return the knife,
still dripping with blood, to
the Germans, saying, Hans
is a good fellow. He was
merely misled. We are sure
that he will new be a good
boy" But the Russians did
not agree, nor did the vast
majority of the other people
of Europe.
The Soviets were smart.
They turned over a pile of
rubbish to the Western Allies.
After the West spent fabu-
lous sums to rebuild the city,
they now want 1t back. What
is surprising is, not that they
want it now. but that they
do not wait until further
billions are spent before de-
manding it's return.
Since adj 1.-THE Allies found
when they entered the city
was a heap of rubble. the
SovietS should not object if
they leave it in the same con-
dition. The Allies should re-
cruit volunteers from all over
the world to defend the city.
These volunteers should re-
ceive the same pay, wear the
same uniforms, and be simply
but efficiently equipped for
an obstinate struggle. The
women and children should
be evacuated Immediately and
the city placed in a state of
defense. Wien the routes to
Berlin are closed, the West
should wash its hands of the
affair, proclaim the city free
and independent and ask the
defenders to sacrifice them
selves not for Berlin, but for
civilization. In this way the
Soviets can assume the re-
sponsibility for destroying the
city. The Russians and Poles
would undoubtedly do so
with the greatest pleasure,
but it will be a difficult de-
cisior for the East Germans
to make. Germans ruthlessly
destroy everything when
fighting in foreign countries,
but exceedingly dislike de-
struction on their own soil.
Providing no effort is made
to take or retake a position
which-the generals assure
us-is very important" to
their plans, an obstinate de-
tense of Berlin, sufficient to
destroy it, should cost no
more than 10000 men. A
single skirmish in the war of
the future, where millions of
men will be engaged, will be
more costly. Paul Malta.
4 4 4
Khrushchev's six month
ultimatum by which he arbi-
trarily provoked the actual
Berlin crisis reminds of pre-
meditated action of a gang
ster who, hesitating to shoot,
threatens to use violence in
case the loot is not sur
rendered at a certain date.
The loot in Berlin includes
enslavement of free people.
There is no doubt what
would have been the reac-
ton of Americans in Lin
coins days to such an over
bearing line of action. Why
should it be different today?
There are just two ways
for us to act. sEither we ca
pitulate or reject the Soviet
ultimatum. Meeting the ex-
tortionist halfway is half
surrender, an open green light
to the aggresSor.
Rejection Of Khrushchev's
ultimatum could transform
the actual Berlin crisis into
the long-needed and long
aspired turning point for the
decline and subsequent eclipse
of communism. This could
mark the end of our indie
cision and initiate the be-
ginning of our positive
action.
In this year of Lincoln's
anniversary let us declare
openly and loudly that we be-
lieve in and are willing to
firmly stand for a govern
ment of the people, by the
people and for the people,
not only for ourselves, but
for all the world.