Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1949. WESTERN GERMANY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 159, 18 April 1949, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1949. WESTERN GERMANY

.Is Germany ready for the broad new freedoms which will be offered under the new Occupation Statute ? That is the question which most people will be asking. Under the Versailles Treaty Germany was nailed down in such a way that it was almost inevitable that sooner or later she should seek revenge. She made her bid, overran the greater part of Europe and part of Asia, only to be finally defeated a second time. With this experience in mind, the Western Powers seem determined not to repeat the mistake. There may be a number of reasons for the move which has been taken by Britain, France! and the United States, but it has to be remembered that anything that is done will be applicable to Western Germany only. Russia is still in control of the whole of the eastern portion of the country, and at the moment looks like staying' tllGl’G. If, IIOWCVCI, tilC new statute gives to the Western German people freedoms hitherto denied them, then the people in the eastern portion are not likely to want to‘remain very long under Soviet domination. It should not be'thought, however, that sufficient freedom will be enjoyed by the West’s 45,000,000 inhabitants as to allow them ever to become a menace to the peace of Europe. The freedoms embodied in the Statute apply to internal affairs Only.- The Allies will retain control of. foreign policy, disarmament,. scientific research and control of the Ruhr industries. Western Germany will have its own constitution and its own government, which will function at the pleasure of the Allies. The full terms of the Statute are not likely to be wholly acceptable to the Germans. The fact that there is to be restriction on trade has already brought forth unfavourable comment, but there is sufficient ill* the document to convince the Germans of the desire of the democracies to help put Germany back on her feet, and to remove many of the irksome restrictions which occupation necesarily imposes. There can be no complaint about any action which would tend to improve living conditions' generally. The Germans may oi may not be ready for self-govern-ment. They are to be given the chance to prove that they are. The future lies yery largely in their own hands.