NOTES AND COMMENTS. GERMANY AFTER THE WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 49, 7 December 1940, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

GERMANY AFTER THE WAR

In a symposium of peace aims entitled “After the War,” the Hon. David Astor discusses a “New Deal for Europe,” with a possible Federation scheme as a basis. Ho writes: In considering the future of Germany, let us assume that the Nazi regime has suffered a total eclipse, for unless this is so it is no use thinking of Europe as anything but a permanent armed camp. We must, then, neither impose a system of government which is so unsteady, because so hated, that a punitive expedition has to be made every few years to prevent the Germans from throwing it off, nor must we allow them such independence that they are. free within two short decades to, repeat their armed excursions into neighbouring territories. Broadly, the aim of the Allies' must be to recapture the Germans and their admirable country for Western civilisation, while at the same time taking every precaution against a revival of militarism among them. Ultimately, both of these purposes will be best served by inviting them into some form of political partnership from which both peoples should gain many economic and cultural advantages, not the least of which might be the imparting of our peculiar and slowly-acquired political sense and standards of behaviour. This task might prove of great spiritual

value to both giver and receiver.