GERMANY IS AMERICA'S PROBLEM
DALLIN, DAVID J.
Wast and West Germany Is America's Problem By David J. Dallin WHAT A PLEASANT BUSINESS it is to study Germany nowadays! If you are a Congressman or a columnist you board a plane In New York...
...We must be alert and we must reject any kind of isolationism...
...Ties between formerly antagonistic Britain and America grow stronger with time...
...about German nationalists oriented eastward...
...Together, America and Britain will have to bring Germany into the Western setup...
...tfap* he hoped for an armistice with England in the event of an attack on rvuesia...
...WITH THEIR EYES FIXED ON the specter of <a Russo-German coalition, some American public leaders and writers tend to overlook the fact that the trend of German policy in the last century has not been eastward...
...But Hitler was blind to realities...
...A dual meaning is inherent in the term "nationalism...
...together they opposed France's predominance in the '20's...
...When the Rapallo Pact "was concluded between the Weimar Republic and Soviet Russia, the two nations were again balanced, this time both being weak: Russian mterfereiwe tn tJermen affairs was impossible, and Wetmar Germany neither would nor could Intervene in Russia...
...The New Leader, as everyone knows, has since its founding loathed everything for which men like Eisler stand, it has also loved everything which men like Eisler hate...
...America is threatened only whenever a single European power tries to control the whole Continent...
...and that to prevent the re-emergence of a Russo-German alliance the West must buy Soviet friendship— at a high price, if necessary...
...The new German "nationalism" is a phrase often heard these days...
...Hero again you are told about clever Soviet intrigues...
...the wholesale transfer of German produce to Russia and the feeding of Soviet troops at German expense...
...It is absurd to expect a coalition of Germany and Russia in the near future...
...Then you proceed to Germany itself, where you meet a Jot of occupation officers and a few "natives...
...We must also develop a keener insight into political developments than was the case when isolationism flourished js\the 19301s, and the Yalta policy was pxomUsfltoaf'in the J940's...
...If you are a Congressman or a columnist you board a plane In New York today, and tomorrow, over aperitifs in Paris, you listen to learned prognostications by deputies and editors about a Russo-German alliance threatening Europe and the globe...
...the political climate in the East generally—all these factors have made a strong impression on the Germans...
...Although it spelled disaster for the national sovereignty of others, the pact left each of its signatories independent in its own home affairs...
...And we...
...We nearly gave Communism a aseettd chance to turn Eisler into a sacrificed lamb, Instead, Sister will nam slink into the Soviet orbit a man who refused to defend his beliefs at the bar of "capitalist" democracy...
...Refusing to acknowledge the American case for Gerhart Eisler's extradition because it threatened Uie right of political asylum, Britain has freed Eisler...
...The latter supported Bismarck when he turned against Napoleon and crushed the Second Empire...
...Once Germany was defeated in World War I and France emerged as the greatest power on the Continent, Britain's sympathies were again on Germany's side...
...They are violently opposed to communism and are severely persecuted by the Soviet authorities in the Eastern zone...
...At first he expected British neutrality in « war...
...The "pastoralization" scheme of the i 11 - f a m e d Morgenthau plan...
...Public opinion changes fast, of course...
...It is easy to denounce this English attitude toward Germany...
...A more constant and important element of Germany's foreign policy has been her orientation toward Britain...
...it passed its peak twenty years ago...
...Among the latter is freedom and deroeeraoy...
...They want a democratic Germany to check the drive from the East...
...And that includes Germany...
...AN "ALLIANCE" BETWEEN GERMANY and Russia would actually mean Soviet domination over, and voluntary sovietization of Germany...
...The United States has now inherited that role, and in particular, the two basic elements of Britain's policy toward Europe—geographical aloofness combined with profound interest in European developments...
...Is a new German volte-jace eastward possible in the more distant future...
...Today anything can happen . . . except an alliance of Germany and Russia...
...A rapprochement with Russia is out of the question today...
...The same principle once governing British policy now governs American: an expanding, bellicose power in Europe is inimical to U.S...
...America has no territorial interests and doesn't covet land in Europe...
...Twice her armies stood deep in Russian territory...
...it served to prolong the old Prussian militaristic tradition...
...If the Japanese succeeded in occupying California, the rest of us would become rabid "nationalists...
...Even Hitler, remembering the British attitude toward Germany, hoped to earn London's blessings and support...
...and today both oppose Soviet expansionism...
...The American delegates at Paris Hem to be pursuing a wise policy at* the moment...
...In fact, no other *one of Germany has made as much economic progress as the British...
...In both of this century's great wars, Germany fought Russia...
...We might properly review what we have forgotten of our English inheritance...
...about Bismarck, Paulus, Seydlitz and Nadolny...
...This, by implication, must result in the alliance of all those who want freedom and independence—including Germany—into one powerful bloc which will strive for universal peace but» will be ready to fight if compelled to defend itself...
...Communism as a philosophy, as a passion and a religion, is almost non-existent in Germany...
...But Soviet blows were hard and the effects will last lor quite a time...
...Out of Hitler's twelve years in the Reichskanzlerei two were spent in collaboration With Russia...
...interests...
...And when you return home after a few weeks you are an "authority" on Germany who is able to demonstrate that not the Kremlin, but the "German danger" is the greatest on earth...
...Together they fought in the first World War and defeated the Kaiser...
...We should never confuse the two meanings of the same word...
...Democratic governments may again be overthrown, and a new rapprochement with a communist or anticommunist Russia can come about...
...But there are realities in Britain's insular position vis-a-vis Europe which have always dictated her policies...
...More important for Germany's rehabilitation in the '20s was the BritishAmerican solution of reparation and other economic problems...
...GERMANY WAS ORIENTED TOWARD Britain at a time when Britain was tee dominant world power...
...Even German SocialDemocrats are sometimes considered bearers of the new nationalist spirit...
...On the other hand, "nationalism" has come to mean forcible expansion, armed conquest, and acquisition of foreign territory, and leads to wars...
...the remaining ten witnessed a violent propagandistic and military fight with Russia...
...but they want Germany to become a component part of Western Europe...
...Under present conditions, however, Germany could not escape communist rule if she entered into an alliance with Moscowv Historically, Russo-German alliances have always emerged ara connection of two approximately equal forces...
...He will go down in history a pitiful coward...
...they killed more Russians than any others...
...the cruelty of Soviet secret police who run the Eastern zone and their reopening of twelve of Hitler's concentration camps...
...True, a secret agreement with Lenin and Trotsky gave the German generals an opportunity to experiment with and produce new weapons...
...the effects and the inglorious end of the Berlin blockade...
...The maturing Labor Party was more pro-German than the Conservatives and Liberals...
...Memories of Re/1 Army atrocities committed against German civilians in 1945...
...Social-Democrats . in Germany cannot renounce, of course, the idea of a German state...
...By jumping bail and stowing away Eisler reneged on the martyrdom which might have been his and the Communist party's...
...Even at the height of its nationalistic fit, Germany usually acted without and often against Russia...
...If this country wants to avoid military entanglements, it must rely on European nations...
...If we call this "nationalism," what other solution is there to the German problem...
...Bismarck's Germany was strong and Independent, just as imperial Russia was: neither had to fear intervention or subjugation by the other...
...British policy toward Germany was also backed by the U.S.A...
...together they fought Hitler Germany in »the '40's...
...Not until the Kaiser started construction of a great navy to threaten Britain, did* the silent entente between Berlin and London cease and England enter into a coalition with France and Russia...
...It backed Bismarck's attempts to unite Germany (to London this meant containment of expansionist France...
...By the time the HitlerStalin Pact was signed in 1939, the two had become great powers with huge,- up-to-date military machines...
...Today every intelligent German understands that ah alliance with Russia means, hot the strengthening of his Fatherland, but its subservience to Moscow and its remodeling along the lines of other Soviet satellites...
...There is no sure cure, however, for all eventualities...
...An Editorial— Britain Recovers America's Fumble A LAW PASSED IN 187a in a country historically accused of muddleheadedness, brought honor to democracy last week...
...Many years must pass before the tragic events of Russian rule in Germany will be forgotten...
...it must see to it that these nations are able to defend themselves...
...today they are discernible in the Labor government's positive attitude toward the rehabilitation and unification of Germany...
...Eisler cannet help communism ai mush as democracy might have had Britain dented him political asyhan...
Vol. 32 • June 1949 • No. 23
