The Growing Crises in Europe

...In the other countries of the European East the situation is similar in many respects...

...Red Army morsie wss sinking...

...But by and large the Germans are the hated Nazis, the cause of suffering for this little land that tried so hard to build up an exemplary democracy in the two short decades of its existence...

...Those concepts hsn recently brought about negotiations toward a merger of Socialist and Communist parties in Norway and Denmark, and the same plan is being discussed is other countries...

...Besides tbe obvious question of food, the status of the Sudeten Germans is uppermost in people's minds...

...In the meantime, Britain and the I'nited State» have entered a new political road...

...With very little publicity—less even than would be advisable—they started a political offensive in eastern Europe, at Bret concentrating their efforts on Hulgsria and Rumania...

...This has not yet been the case...

...its treatment has not been that of a fellow-ally, but has differed little from that of conquered territories...

...Many people credit it with averting a crisis similar to that of the London Polish government...

...they feel that with the Red Army within the country any political showdown would have resulted in a Communist victory...

...In the more important countries, hew-ever, a disillusionment takes plsce among the Soci?lista, as far as eollaboraUsa with Communism is concerned...

...The Growing Crises in Europe Communist "Wave of the Future" Is Subsiding By David J. Dallin THE events of the last few months indicate that the tide of Soviet and Communist successes has pasted its nigh peak, at least for tS# present, snd that a new situation arises in Europe...

...On one hand, official Soviet policy sanctions the requisitioning (and subsequent export to Rumia) of all "German-owned" tools, machinery, etc.—which in view of' the extensive German possessions after six years of domination, nationalization of Jewish property, and considerable holdings by German minority groups in Czechoslovakia totals up to a considerable percentage of the entire Czechoslovak industry...

...Czechoslovakia, like all other newly liberated countries of Europe, . suffers from an absence of outstanding «popul?r democratic and liberal leaders capable of rallying the people to a truly "new" order...

...It will inevitably pose the question before Kurope: western or eastern orientation...

...In a Ion* and somewhat confused resolution it repudiated the proposal of "unity...

...the settlement of postwar European affairs calls for ? different policy than in wartime...

...Such a new element can be kindled and fostered only by a more energetic foreign policy of the United States and Britain...

...Its influence is diminishing...

...Its arrival meant the end of political and economic oppression, so the Czech people hoped, and it greeted the Russian troops jubilantly...

...or sven further, they appropriate any automobiles, bicycles, watches or other articles and goods practically unobtainable in the Soviet Union...

...it has already assumed such proportions that its political consequences —the first among them being the humble prsyar of tha occupied nations to be liberated from the liberators—signify a moral defeat for the Soviet Government The real significance of that defeat is far greater then people are inclined to feel in this country...

...in the liberated countries local Communists played a major role -.and in the East decisive one...

...In the silent rivalry betw< ? the western allies and Russia, the foi ..ier were retreating and losing prestige...

...Czech intellectuals and labor leaders anxiously survey the political scene and hopefully grasp any indication that at long last the Western democracies may have found "a big Stick" to wield in the bitter game of power politics...

...But this is only one among the factors which create a new situation in Europe ami Asia...

...In addition, occasionally Soviet soldiers go beyond this in "liberating" any moveable property bearing the label "made in Germany...

...and the very fact that there remained an alien force in the country, an army through whose presence foreign pressure remained unabated in C sec heeler akia, which has beea becoming increasingly aware ef it* national conacioaaness Economically, Czechoslovakia has been promised considerable help from Soviet Russia...

...The American zone is limited te the Western border area around Pilsen...

...It is a ticklish problem indeed, snd generally the Czechs seem to be anxious to get rid of their German minority...

...that Communism may plsy a positive role in the rehabilitation of Europe, are illusions still in existence .in certom western countries...

...Bet it is obvious that unless there is specific encouragement of the democratic elements there and elsewhere in tide blacked-oot sphere of Eastern Europe, unless Czechoslovakia is not once again sold out by a Munich, there is little hope lor a revival of political and economic liberty...

...Bat it was not long before the popular mood changed...

...It may as yet he too early to give a correct estimate of Czechoslovakia's political future...

...So far, however, as the average citizen can judge, Czechoslovakia has been solely at the giving end of the deal...

...Little by little Russian troops are apparently withdrawing from the country, leaving only key pointa occupied...

...Industry is at a standstill, tho eropa are bad, and ? > real improvement can be expected from big-scale annexations of territory (for instance by Poland), or from the conquest of a new region (Yugoslavia in Trieste) or fvom a lightning-like removal of s few million Germans (from Czechoslovakia and western Poland...

...arriving as it did from a country with sn exceedingly low standard of life into the cities of Europe, war->weary, adventurous, and intoxicated by victory, the Red Army began to lose some of its famous "iron discipline...

...Here and there one hears remarks that, the German element was well integrated into this post- Versailles republic, that to exile them would constitute a "moral victory for totalitarian intolerance...

...The Cssgress of the Socialist party in Krane* rejected, the merger of the two partim a few weeks ago...

...In the first half of 1W5 these .Soviet successes reached an unprecedented high, when half of Germany was ceded to Soviet Russia by her western Allies, when the Allies accepted the Lublin government for Poland, and when Communist parties were included In the governments of almost the whole of continental Europe, assuming a leading role throughout its Eastern tone...

...It would be a mistake to suppose that the Soviet command has encouraged, as a revenge, the acts of looting, raping, and killing, by Russian soldiers...

...Radiating into the neighboring nations, this campaign sesames significance as a campaign for the real independence of the peoples concerned...

...Such a change of heart can be attributed largely te two factors: tbe undisciplined behavior of the new occupant'a troop*, ita looting and plundering...

...The West is now on the offensive...

...I eon Rlum ss well as Daniel Meyer, the former underground leader, warned against such s step...

...The gulf between the two psrties is growing deeper, and the electoral campaign will bring about a real fight between them...

...A report reaching us from Czechoslovakia from a most reliable source, adds interesting Hems to the facts already known...

...Tkt advance of Communism hat teen checked everywhere...

...An inherent faith in the Benes government has remained...

...badly supplied, it had to live off the country—a heavy burden to the people* already looted by tha Germans...

...The Red Army, having won in battle tho world's admiration, proved unpopular as an occupation army...

...o * If ola Wee ef Cemmea/sm It is paradoxical but...

...Communist influence, based largely on the military successes of the Red Army, is indeed diacernable, and if the pitiable economic aituation persists it is likely to increase, unless a new element appears on tbe horizon to balance it...

...A survival of the wartime collaboration in the underground, this concept actually means subordination of the Socialist movement to its new ally, which intends, of course, to rule the united party through its separate "tractions," "cells" and a rigid discipline...

...No wonder then that in private conversations Czechs will sppeal to American soldiers with the plea: "Liberate us from our liberators...

...Such an emotional attachment' must however remain purely in the mind* of the population unless it can be converted into a concrete, tangible platform of aims and action...

...Between West and fas* The underground movements, heroic under the Germans, have become part of coalition regimes...

...Czechox/ovoklonf "Liberate Us From Oer Liberators'" EvENTS in Bulgaria and Rumania have been reported in the general press...

...The East trios to hold what it hsd conquered...

...Observers familiar with conditions In Prague are certain that Benes is a sincere democrat who—were he free to act—would only too gladly ally himself with what the Czechs see u the new Byrnes-Bevin 'Bidault constellation...

...Ihr "nete and hifiket kind of democracy" km proved a failure and a source •f disappointment...

...Shortly before Japan's surrender things began to change...

...Hera are some excerpts from It: Czechoslovak pnblic opinion, as far as it is possible to discern political trends in a country still devoid of democratic institutions, is today veering from the Soviet Union back to a western orientation...

...with its military aims accomplished, with no battles ahead and with 10 idea about its new functions in foreign lands...

...They became a dictatorial, sometimes a very cruel, cover for the removal of industrial equipment by the Soviet authorities and fo' doubtful social experiments...

...true that the retreat of Communism In western Europe is not so rapid and not as obvious ss la the East, Neither Prance, no, Italy, aer Scandinavia has lived through a period of direct Soviet occupation, and what Communist rule means is not so clear to them as to the peoples ef eastern Europ?, The obsolete notion that Socislism and Communism have much in common in their ahne and are able to collaborate in a coalition government...

...But it is a fact...

...Even in Italy, with Pietre Nenni leading the numerically strong Socialist party in the footsteps of the Communists, a new "wing" is growing fast that rejects his policy, ami it will not be long before this trend will assume the leadership of the party...

...But it will take a long time and a hard fi?kt kef ore it will he finally defeated...

...During the last two years the military victories of the Russian armies have been paralleled by a large-scale political offensive...

...Their romantic deeds I· ft behind, they proved to be not very much more than a front for the local Communists, and proved unable to cope ?with the difficult tasks of red ab iii tat ion of national life...

...The conflict inevitably will get much tougher in coming months...

...Even the division of big estates, which could be beneficial under other circumstances, has not been successful...

...When the Red Army first entered Prague—since American forces had obviously been ordered to stop short of the cspital, in accordance with a prearranged inter-Allied agreement—the Bohemian population by and large welcomed it as the liberators from the German yoke...

...In the Resistance Movements the Communists were usually the strongest influence...

...that Communism can be made a basis of democracy...

...Its prestige nus begun to sink...

...There is no doubt that many hard sentences were passed by court-martials in such easts and that a lot of soldiers wars executed...

...The slackening of discipline in its army is a terrible menace to the Soviet bureaucracy...

...Their hands are no longer lied tip hy the logic and the necessities of a coalition war...