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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1956)
GREAT DECISIONS Topic 2 What Should the U.S. Do About Germany in Europe? THE PHOBLEM Just 10 years after the com plete defeat of Nazi militarism, Germany is again a rising mili tary power. Now there are two Germanies . . . one in the West allied to the U.S. and one in the East allied to the Soviet Union. Divided, rearmed Germany, the focal point in the cold war, is a fiind of world in miniature, with Russia and the U.S. stand ing toe-to-toe along the line that divides Germany, Europe and the world into powerful, hostile camps. At her surrender in 1945, Ger many was divided into four oc cupation zones U.S., Russian, British and French. Berlin, the capital, was also divided into four zones, although deep in Russian-occupied Germany. Con flicts in the impossible "joint" administration reached a climax in 1948-49 when Russia block aded the Western zones of Ber lin and the U.S. and her allies supplied troops and West Ber lin citizens by "airlift." Though Russia lifted the blockade, the division of Ger many into East and West seemed permanent. Western allies merged their three zones and set up a West German govern ment. Russia shortly after set up an East German communist government. All negotiation at tempts ended in deadlock. "The German problem" crowd ed newspaper headlines all over the world in 1955, providing a background of the problem and demonstrating questions which arose. Last year's news stories included the following: May 5 West German Fed eral Republic became a sov ereign state. President Eisen hower signed an order ending occupation of Germany and transferring functions of t n e military command to diplomats. West German Chancellor Kon- rad Adenauer said, "Our goal is a free and unted German in a free and united Europe." To the East Germans he said, "You belong to us, we belong to you!." May 5 The Western Euro pean Union, first step in polit ical federation of Western Eu rope, became a reality. The agreement provides for admis sion of West Germany into the North Atlantic defense alliance (NATO) and will put 500,000 Germans into uniform for the first time since World War II. Adenauer states, "Germany, af ter being isolated for 50 years, has chosen the path of friend ship with the people of the West." May 13 Premier Nikolai A. Bulganin bitterly criticized Western policy of rearming West Germany. "The Soviet Union," he said has always been a reso lute and consistent opponent of West German remilitarization." May 14 A 20-y ear mutual defense treaty, an answer to the NATO alliance, was signed by the USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Rumania. Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet army was named supreme commander of the unified com mand. May 15 Konrad Adenauer Station KWIN 140Q K.C Sundays 10:15 A.M. Investments made by the 1 0th of the month earn divi dends as of the First. 27 f CHRISTIAN L SCIENCE A iHEALS said, "If there were a choice for the Federal Jepublic of Ger many between reunification on the one hand and NATO on the other . . . and we chose in favor of reunification, . . . Germany would become a satellite state." June 10 Tha administration of Adenauer was criticized in Parliament for "unworthy haste" in which West German rearm ament was presented for legisla tive action. Particular criticism was against a "soldiers' oath" which is similar to that required in the Hitler regime. June 13 Arriving in Washing- A meeting for discussion leaders taking part in the Great Decisions program will be held Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Room 3 ai Medford High school, according to Don Han son, chairman of the Great Decisions committee. The program is to include a critique of the first week's activities in the foreign policy study and further help to those leading various discus sion groups, Hanson said. ton, Adenauer noted the bonds of friendship between his nation and the U.S. He said that Ger mans are convinced that friend ship with the free world "on the basis of the treaties which have recently come into force, is the best means of maintaining peace and freedom, and attaining the reunification of Germany." July 18 H e a d s of govern ments of the U.S., Britain, France and the Soviet Union opened their "summit" confer ence at Geneva, Switzerland. The problem of German and European security received con siderable attention. Eisenhower referred to the division of Ger many as "a basic source of in stability in Europe," and called for prompt reunification. He said the U.S. is "quite ready to con sider" reasonable safeguards compatible with the security of all concrened" in regard to the Soviet Union's security interests in the face of a united and re armed Germany. June 24 Adenauer assures the Western Allies that West Germany will not use force to solve the problem of reunifica tion. Sept. 8- Adenauer arrived in Moscow to discuss the "normal ization of relations" between Germany and USSR. In a dra matic policy shift, the Soviet Union offered June 7 to extend diplomatic recognition to the West German Federated Repub lic and settle outstanding areas of conflict. Adenauer made clear his determination to obtain re lease of German prisoners of war held by the Russians, and raised question of Germany's eastern borders. Sept. 20 Russia grants sov ereignty to the East German Democratic Republic following three days of talks by Soviet leaders and East. German Pre mier Otto Grotewohl. Under the treaty, East Germany is "free in its decisions upon questions of its interior, politics and foreign politics, including its relations with the West German Federal Republic." Soviet troops, how ever, remain in East Germany, as long as Western powers do not withdraw their troops from West Germany. Sept. 30 Five modern day "Nazis" received suspended sen tences on charges of revising the banned Socialist Reich polit ical party. Three other Nazi type political movements are banned- One Nazi-type party, the German Reich party, is ac tive on the state level in Lower Saxony. v Oct. 27 The "Big Four" for ARE OUR SPECIALTY. Invest your money where It Is protected to $10,000.00 by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. Combine this .SAFETY with a comfortable RETURN and liberal withdrawal provisions and you have an excellent investment. Open your insured savings account now . . . for PROFIT AVAILABILITY SAFETY FIRST FEDERAL A Savings & Loan Assn. of Medford North Holly R. F. Kyle, eign ministers open discussions prepared at "Summit" confer ence in July, including 1) Euro pean security and Germany, 2) disarmament and 3) develop ment of East-West contracts. Nov. 18 Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, commenting on the foreign ministers confer ence, said the U.S. "will find it hard to understand why" the Russian delegation "was appar ently under orders not to dis cuss seriously the matter of Ger man unification." Soviet For eign Minister V. M. Molotov de clared that discussions of Ger many "were doomed to failure, if only for the reason they took place in the absence of Ger mans." Nov. 16 No agreement was reached on any of the three agenda items at the Big Four Ministers conference. A final communique stated that the min isters had "a frank and com prehensive discussion" of the three items. Dec. 7 Loyalty oaths were administered to the first 101 members, of West Germany's projected 500,000 fighting force. At full strength by Jan. 1, 1960, the force will total 80,000 men in the air branch, 17,000 in the navy and the balance in ground troops. Adenauer states that civilian control over the armed forces will be strictly observed. Jan. 16, 1956 West Germany will have a navy of 170 ships and 17,000 men by 1960, accord ing to the defense ministry. First units will be 18 minesweepers. German military tradition was praised in formal ceremonies at the recently established West German naval training base. Jan. 18, 1956 East Germany's parliament approves the crea tion of a defense ministry ana a "people's army," in a move designating the already estab lished People's Police as an army. The People's Police strength is estimated at about 95,000 foot soldiers and 15,000 in the air and sea branches. East German Premier Otto Grotewohl called for joint ef forts by East and West Germany to obtain a reduction of foreign troops on German soil. WHERE IS GERMANY GOING? Can Germany be reunited? What are tne issues that keep her divided? What possible com promises would lead to reunifi cation? Is a reunited Germany important to the U.S.? How would a reunited neutral Ger many affect U.S. interests? What effect would it have on Euro pean peace and security? Would it be a bulwark against the spread of communism? Or would it be a power vacuum inviting communist subversion or aggres sion? What will German rearma ment mean? Why did the West decide to rearm West Germany and bring her into NATO? What effect did this have on Russian policy in East Germany? Are Russian fears of a rearmed Ger many justified? From a long range point of view, could a re armed West Germany be a threat to the U.S. and her allies? Can the West depend on West Germany as a military ally? Would we be justified in dis banding NATO and withdrawing U.S. forces from Europe as Rus sia has asked? What will the German people do? What is their government's attitude on reunification? On rearmament in NATO vs. "neu tralization?" Is the official atti tude shared by the bulk of the German people? Might Russia persuade West Germany to ac cept neutrality as the price for unification? How democratic is the new West Germany and what are the dangers of revived militarism? GERMANY'S IMPORTANCE TO THE U.S. The rebirth of war-smashed German economy is one of the great "success stories" of the last 10 years. With factories bombed and dismantled, cut off from Eastern European markets, under clouds of suspicion from President the western neighbors, West Germany seemed to accomplish a miracle. U.S. Ambassador James B. Conant said it was because of 1) currency reforms by occupa tion authorities, 2) establsihment by law of a stable banking sys tem, 3) wise economic policies BROADCAST TIMES Here are the times and sta tions for the broadcast of "Great Decisions" programs: KBES-TV Tuesdays, 2:30 do 2:45 p.m. KYJC Saturdays. 6 to 6:30 p.m. KMED Sundays, 9 to 9:30 p.m. KWIN (Ashland) Mondays, 8 to 8:30 p.m. developed by the government, and 4) Marshall Plan aid from the U. S. Aid from "the U.S. from 1948 to 1955 totaled about $1,500, 000,000 not counting a sizeable contribution" to West German defense and rearmament. The real story, however, is in all of Western European pro duction, which raised the value last year by 5 to 6 per cent. West Germany increased its to tal production by 10 per cent. Although 11 years ago some Western statesmen were threat ening to strip German industry and leave it a harmless agricul tural nation, today West Ger many is the world's third larg est producer of steel, in partner ship with the U.S. and Western European countries. An economic "pool" of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg invited West Ger many and Italy to join the in ternational community as the first step toward a federated Europe. Has the West created a Frankenstein or an indispensable ally by helping West Germany to rebuild and rearm? Here are some of the facts. GERMANY'S STRENGTH West Germany's population has swelled by over 10,000,000 refugees since the war. The "im migrants" have given West Ger many a vast pool of skilled and semi-skilled laborers. Unemploy ment is estimated at less than 500,000. West German 'production in 1956 is far ahead of prewar peaks, and in every respect out strips communist East Uermany. Last year industrial output climbed another 14 per cent. German steel, machinery, cam eras, automobiles find markets all over the world, but 75 per cent of her exports go to part ners and neighbors in the West ern European Union. Six nations of Western Eu rope supply the U.S. with more than 85 per cent of all the steel products this country imports. Compared with her other part ners, West Germany has 29 per cent of the WEU population, 16 per cent iron ore production, 392 per cent steel production and 53 per cent coal production. -In the resources of manpower and raw materials, how impor tant is West Germany to her Western European partners? Would the loss of West Germany to communism have a serious effect on Western European prosperity? Security? What about the threat of German com petition to the U.S.? Can West Germany become too strong economically? What about West German role in d e f e n-s e of Western 'Europe? Are NATO countries' military forces, un der command of U.S. General Alfred Gruenther, important to the defense of U.S. interests m Europe? Could we defend West ern Eurpoe without the German army? Is unified command a safeguard against a new Ger man militarism? WHAT ARE OUR CHOICES? Can the West afford to lose West Germany as an ally? Which is more important to the U.S. German reunification and a set tlement with Russia, or West German military partnership in NATO? As the price of settlement and German reunification, Russia in sists on disarming and neutral izing Germany. This would mean the East German commu nist army would be dissolved and East Germany would with draw from the communist War saw Pact. It would also mean doing away with the West Ger man army and the removal of West Germany from NATO. Should we consider these terms seriously? Would a united, neu tral Germany (nearly 70,000,000 people) be an effective buffer between East and West? ... Or a dangerous power vacuum in which communism might flour ish? Russia wants "conferences" and "joint committees" between the East and West German gov ernments to work out problems of reunification before free elec tions are held to choose an all German government. What are the dangers in such a procedure? Why is the West insisting that elections be held first? If elec tions are free and supervised by the UN will it make any difference to delay them? Should U.S. policy be more flexible? If the U.S. and Russia are able to agree on the major issues German armaments and elec tions what position should the U.S. stake on secondary issues? On Germany's eastern borders? The U.S. and West Germany consider the border with Poland "temporary" and Russia and Po land consider it "permanent." Should the U.S. become involved in Germany's claims to prewar territory? What about .Russia's request for an East-West non- aggression pact ... is this rea sonable if it- includes the U.S. and major European powers? . . . If it includes only Russia and the U.S.? If we reach no settlement with Russia Should we continue to press for German reunification if no agreement with Russia over Ger many is possible? How far should we go? Under what con ditions if any should we re sort to force to reunify Ger many? Should we resign our selves to a permanently divided Germany? If divided indefinitely, how should we treat West Germany? Extend her full psrtnersiph in Western poltiical, economic sad military life? How d e p 1 y should we depend on West Ger many as a military ally? Do we have any insurance against a revival of German militarism? Will the West be able to main tain a "balance" once she re builds her army to full strength? Is there, any . danger that a strong, fully armed West Ger many may make a deal with Russia? Could the U.S. prevent this? West Germany is already the third, largest industrial power in the Western world (after the U.S. and Britain). Is there a po tential threat to U.S. and allied business? Should we encourage West German economic develop ment ... or try to contain it within reasonable limits? What if she invades traditional U.S. markets like America in real strength? YOUR OPINION COUNTS "The "Great Decision" pro gram is designed to form the basis for discussion groups on foreign affairs. More important, it offers a way to express indi vidual opinion. The Great Decisions commit tee is receiving letters (or the ballots included in the fact sheets) to be tabulated. The re sults .will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of State and to our representatives in Congress. The material presented above is a digest and condensation of the fact sheets prepared for use in the Great Decision program. Builders Exchange Building Purchased Portland (U.R) Sale of the Builders Exchange Building in downtown Portlnad to a group of national building owners was reported Saturday. The buyers group is headed by Melvin Mark of New York. The group owns several other major Portland office buildings and other similar structures in other parts of the nation. The Builders Exchange Build ing between SW 3rd and 4th aves. on Stark st. has been owned since end of World War II by James E. and James A. Walch. Man Looks in Wrong Car; Reports His Gone Cambridge, Mass. (U.R) A man's frantic call to police head quarters Friday . night that "someone stole my car and my wife from the parking lot" brought police on the run. After a brief search they found the man's car still parked in the lot with his wife waiting impatiently inside. "I must have looked in the wrong car," the red-faced hus band said.. On April 1st, 1956 The Insurance Agency of ROBINSON - POTTER - SHEPHERD Will Operate Under the New Firm Name ' of'- -' ROBINSON-POTTER RIPLEY INSURANCE AGENCY U. S. National Bank Building Phone 2-6288 o Fire-Automobile - Casualty - Surety Bonds-Life Sound Advice Without Obligation Sunday, April I. 1956 Action by Congress On Ike's Program Given in Boxscore Washington (CQ) Here's a boxscore on how Congress is treating some major parts of President Eisenhower's legisla tive program: . FARM Passed in differing forms by both chambers, with some provisions acceptable to the President, others opposed by him; now in conference commit tee. SCHOOLS Stymied in House Rules Committee by threat of anti - segregation amendment that is opposed by President. HEALTH Hearings held on some minor bills and routine appropriations started; outlook dim for any major new pro grams. HOUSING Hearings begun in Senate, slated in House; De mocrats pressing for bigger pro gram than President requested. SOCIAL SECURITY Passed by House; hearings in Senate committe completed; Senate out look doubtful. FOREIGN AID House com mittee hearings begun; consider able opposition to size of request and "permanent aid" plan. IMMIGRATION Hearings promised but not begun in House and Senate committees. LABOR Taft-Hartley revis ion hearings may be held by Senate committee; no action ex pected. HAWAII STATEHOOD Ap pears dead for session. POSTAGE RATE INCREASE Hearings under way in House committee; less opposition than before. HIGHWAY Hearings held in House committee; action expect ed after recess. AID TO DEPRESSED AREAS Hearings begun in Senate com mittee on Administration and Democratic bills. EXCISE AND CORPORATE TAX EXTENSION Passed by House and Senate, sent to Presi dent. TRADE House Committee approved joining Organization for Trade Cooperation. (Copyright 1956. Congres sional Quarterly) Solar Operated Car Wins Science Honors Corvallis (U.R) A model car operated by solar energy won sweepstakes honors and a col lege scholarship for its Beaver- ton builder here Friday at the fourth annual Northwest Science Exposition sponsored by the Portland Museum of Science and Industry. Roger Berg won a $400 schol arship provided by Mrs. Clare A. Miller of Portland. Second place award went to Margaret Hanna of Forest Grove for her exhibit of pesticide chemicals. Best display from Multnomah county was entered by Joyce Whiteley of Washington high school for an exhibit of fresh water algae. She won a $200 scholarship offered by the Mult nomah County Medical Society. Bend JUJ0- Reservoir stor age in central Oregon is in good shape. SO MET HQTT i ir IS GOING TO SIXTH AND WATCH SIXTH HEDHESDhY AM L K A uj X GO V MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE FIVE Salem -XU.R) The State Na tural Resources Committee has been requested to continue its functions by Gov. Elmo Smith. HAPPEN AT BARTLETT STREET mm
