J
Gerontocracy Rules Europe? Despite Youthful Ideas, Outlook
By TOM A. CUI.LE.V
f Kewspaper Enterprise Assn.
LONDON (NEA)While never
before younger in its outlook and
ideas, Europe today is ruled by
men who have one foot in the
grave.
This is the great paradox of pol
itirs on this sideof the Atlantic
and it is a major factor in the
mounting troubles over memj)cr
ship of the Common Market and
the role of the North Atlantic
Tteaty Organization.
Jjerontocracy. It is called
sijme circles, the "rule of ancient
rrion;." In order of their seniority
they are:
Germany's Chancellor Konrad
Ml l !'MrHflJW.IWtl'U
BRITAIN'S MACMILLAN
w '. i l in jit iuuii mm
'
v. .
;-1 ' , . i
1 III 1
p' li
fcrtrti.i t im nun i
cpaim'c to a urn
if - f,
L X ' i '
I. IV f ' -1
PORTUGAL'S SALAZAR
Adenauer, 87; Portugal's Premier
Antonio Salazar, 73; France's
President Charles de Gaulle, 72;
Spain's Generalissimo Francisco
Franco, 71, and Britain's Prime
Minister Harold Macmilltm, 69.
All are past the age when they
might be expected to lay down
the burdens of office. Their dura
bility is perhaps explained when
one considers their possible suc
cessors. The gerontocraus appear
like giants alongside the pygmies
who may replace Uiem.
"Nothing grows in the shade
of a tall tree." is a French prov
erb whose validity is proven by a
comparison between De Gaulle
and the two premiers who have
served him, Michel Debre and
George Pompidou.
In 1963. De Gaulle casts a longer
shadow over Europe than ever be
fore. Domestically, lie has dealt
his enemies, the old-line politi
cians, a mortal blow by secur
ing the first absolute parliamen
tary majority in the history of
the French Republic.
Internationally, he Is successful
ly blocking Britain from becom
ing a member of the European
Economic Community, which
younger Europeans regard as the
forerunner ol a fcuropcan political
community. De Gaulle has turned
France away from her ally in two
world wars, Britain, to close tics
with her enemy in those conflicts,
Gcrmanv.
Ironically, the seed for trouble
in this Franco-German raproche
ment is the German feeling that
Britain must be permitted to join
EEC. That feeling is strong among
the Bonn politicians who are like
ly to succeed Adenauer.
Economics minister uiawig tr-
hard is the front runner. Der Alle.
the old one," has announced he
will retire in 1963, but he Is the
wiliest oolilician of them all, cap
able of many last minute sur
prises. Europe will believe mat lie
has really gone when nis succes
sor is sworn mio oince.
In Britain, Macmillan is fight
ing for his political life. His fate
and that of the Conservative rar
tv which he has led for six years
hang upon tlic successful outcome1
of the Common .Market negotiations.
All public opinion polls show
that if a general election were
held tomorrow the British Labor
Party would romp home and
Macmillan would be replaced by
Hugh Caitskcll, although the lat
in's illness may harm his par
ly s chanced.
As for the Iberian niclalnrs.
Saln.ar and Franco, neither has
desiuniited his successor. Franco
has flirted furiously Willi the
monarchists, leading many In he
licve lhat he favors Prince Car
Ins. Hie grandson of Spain's last
Bourbon king. But when Franco
goes the political chaos may be
so great as to sweep all Falan
gists, monarchists. Catholic tra
ditionalists with it.
In 1962 representative democ
racy look a bad beating in Eur
oc, in tne eyes ol many onserv.
crs. It remains to be seen weth
er this trend continues.
Can France, for example, evolve
n two-party system similar lo
the ones which work succcssully
in the United Slates and Britain.'
A return lo the multi-parly sys
tem is out of the (Htcilitm, but
hy wiping out the old parlies ol
the extreme right and many of
those near the center, De Gaulle:
also created the classic conditions
for the formation of a "popular
front" between Socialists and
Communists to oppose the Gaul-
lists.
In Germany the arrest of the
publisher and four top executives
of the news magazine "Der Spie
gel" was widely regarded as a
black eye for democracy. It
caused some observers lo draw
comparisons with Hitler's regime.
In Italy, Ammlore Panfanis
Christian Democrats have been
living cheek by jowl in uneasy co
alition wilh the left-wing Social
ists. This strange deal has now
come apart at the scams. Forth
coming elections may clarify the:
political situation. Meanwhile, the
Italian Communist Party is the
largest this side of the Iron Curtain.
Only in Britain docs represen
tative democracy appear lirmly
in command. But here, the demo
cratic process may well lead to
a victory in the next election lor
the Labor Party. And the Labor
itcs have taken a party stand
against entry into EEC.
This may give the electorate a
clear party division on the ques
tion, but most realistic observers!
leel Britain really has no choice
as to entry.
Either this nation of 53 million
people is allowed to play a new
wer role inside a united Eur
ope, or she will stagnate in eco
nomic backwaters outside Europe.
In the latter case, her voice in
international affairs might carry
no more weight than that of Swit
zerland or Sweden.
For the rest of Europe the de-
Vote Change
SALEM (UPIi A hearing on a
bill to change Oregon's primary
election date from May lo Sep
tember has been set for next Mon
day by the House Elections Com
mittee.
I I V. ' ':1
cision is just as important. Ite
jeetion of Britain would mark
the emergence of a closed, re
strictive Europe with an anti
British, protectionist outlook.
What of Western Europe's abil
ity to defend herself? Here again
the 1963 picture is one of disarray.
Neither France nor Britain has
fulfilled its NATO commitments
The British Army of the Rhine is
under-strength. De Gaulle has re
fused to return to NATO the
two divisions that he withdrew
lor use in the Algerian war. He
will not allow the U.S. to store
nuclear weapons on French soil.
More ominous still, there is no
agreement between the United
States and its European allies as
to relevant political policies and
military strategy for the defense
of Europe.
European leaders appear to
have drawn the wrong lessons!
from the Cuban crisis. Above all
they have failed to realize that
weapons cannot be shared. A Brit
ish defense expert explained it
thus to me:
"There are now only two nucle
ar heavyweights in the ring, the
United States and Soviet Rus
sia. But the politicians act as!
though it were one of those phony
three-a-side fights that you see on
television."
The Nassau decision to substi
tute Polaris subs for the Skybolt
missile was greeted by catcalls
PAGE tH Wednesday, January 23, 1963
HERALD AND NEWS, Klamath Falls. Ore.
here in Britain. America was im
mediately accused of selling her
Atlantic partner down the river.
De Gaulle is going ahead with
his plans to give France an in
dependent nuclear deterrent, al
though the cost will be astronom
ical. This year marks the decisive
stage in De Gaulle's program to
revolutionize France's defenses.
At some time during the next 12
months, the French Air Force will
begin to take delivery of the 50
Mirage IV- supersonic bombers,
each equipped with two atom
bombs. The bombs may be of
relatively low yield, but the yield
is sufficient to boost French egos.
With America's European allies
pulling each in a different direc
tion, President Kennedys deci
sion to exert strong leadership
even at the cost of America being
less well loved is welcomed in
responsible quarters here.
Answering charges of "arro-1
gance that have been leveled
against President Kennedy, The
Times of London pictures him as
a leader who is "looking ahead to
a genuine partnership with a uni
fied Europe sharing burdens and
responsibilities. !
It looks, and is. an unequal
partnership at present because the
distribution of power is unequal," j
the Times editorial continues.
The United States is only just
beginning to shed its role as sole
banker and defender of the west-1
ern world. I
NOW IN PROGRESS
UNDERWOOD'S
MOWS
$ME
Yes, we're moving to a new and better location
right across the street at 719 Main. We want to
move as light as possible so we're slashing hun
dreds of items. Come in and take home the sav
ings. Here's your chance to really . . .
SAVE
20' 75
ON CAMERAS and ACCESSORIES
MM
706 Main
fiftarft yiii
OLD HEADS Two of the European oldsters that lead their nations throuqh the maze
of modern politics and intrigue are Konrad Adenauer, right, of Germany and Charles
de Gaulle or France.
! DREAMT I "1
WAS SELECTED
FOR SNOW'S
J
(Only fht btsf make ill
Nov In Progress! Store-Wide
CLEARANCE
Dresses Sweaters
Skirts Lingerie
to ft OFF
5th and Main
i ;
L '1 - - ( A 0
Ajri.if.u vrf" -vm
im iiiihi : sot . iht is:
f ,i by dnr. Mi- y "-i" n h't ba b, "t.
M Reg. List Price
$199.50
V , LESS S50.00
$14950
Nylon Fabric
,M'0 '
KM
' ' " ' '
ill' I Ir ,..,,
x BEDLINE' '
All Styles Reduced S50.00
EASY TERMS OOO FREE DELIVERY
VitMiMi i win, mitmf
f WE FURNITURE
2405 South 6th O Mattresses O Draperies O Upholstery Ph. TU 4-4510
STOCK UP ON THESE THRIFTY
n
A
) 'mm
SAVE AT
EASTSIDE
PHARMACY
Aquomarint
MOISTURE
LOTION
For Hand and $
Body. Reg.
50 Size
DESERT
FlPWER
HAND AND
BODY LOTION
With Desert Dri
Cream Deodorant
$00
Reg.
2.00
Value
AUTOMATIC-ACTION TOOTHBRUSH
BY Squibb
helps save
your teeth
and your
children's teeth
with
up-and-down
action that
many dentists
suggest
75
FTM
iiXaUkHHMU
r
, t
Complete with four brushes. Motor is scaled in,
has switch.
HAND CREAM
$100 Wa
KM MT . 4.
Deodorant in a Compact
NEW DRI DAY
Apply Dry ond Stay Dry
MOiSTURIZ
CLEANSER
e Boli
3
1
S I
UC.?tK EM I . ti7h f
L ..(K I Rpa. 2.S0 Sire
To"'.:" I NOWOHLY... j
! & TIMEX
WATCHES
10 t; ,v
Ik
Ladies Styles
6'5-9"
10"-15"
With Moisture Bolm
Reg. 4.50 $ 00
Value
Now Only
ki t- C t I -
6.95-8.95
9.95
1.95
CLEANSING
CREAM
With Stimulating Lotion
Reg. 3.00 $ ?k 00
Value
Now Only
2
ISODERM
Medicated
Astringent
Reg. 1.50 Siie with
Reg. 1.50 Eyeliner
Pencil Both for
$189
i
Mony Other
Winter Specials
Throughout
The Store!
TRAINED TO FOLLOW
DOCTOR'S ORDERS...
You put your health in good hands
when our registered pharmacist
fills your prescription.
.tcx cf Uth, pure
drugs
$3
"YOUR PRESCRIPTION HEADQUARTERS"
jCUd Sufo PHARMACY
808 East Main
Always Plenty of Free Parking
Ph. TU 4-6776
3