IMPRESSIONS OF GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25713, 27 January 1949, Page 6

IMPRESSIONS OF GERMANY

VISIT OF REV. R. DUDLEY

PEOPLE AT CROSSROADS

“The German people at the present time are at the crossroads. I believe that they are hesitant and wondering whether' to face East or West. Much of the decision will depend upon the practical help and the spirit of goodwill and Christian service which they receive,” said the Rev. Raymond Dudley. of Christchurch, in an interview yesterday after his return from a visit to America and Europe.

Mr Dudley represented the Methodist Church of New Zealand at the recent Assembly of the World Council of Churches at Amsterdam. He visited Germany at the request of the World Council of Churches and his itinerary was arranged through the courtesy of the Foreign Office. There was much talk about whether countries should receive German immigrants, but the truth was that the Germans themselves would not allow emigration of labour, and the German authorities would not allow child migration. Mr Dudley said. Germany was steadfastly refusing any move to reduce the population. Even those children whose parents could not be traced were being taken care of by welfare organisations. These welfare organisations were most efficiently run, predominantly by the churches. Lutheran. Evangelical, and Roman Catholic, but they were naturally seriously impeded in their work by the lamentable shortage of supplies. The main needs of such institutions were rubber sheets, clothing, and soap. The authorities’ subsidy of 25 marks for each child was hopelessly inadequate. Parents who had to enter their children in such institutions because of lack of suitable accommodation were expected to pay 75 marks a month if they were able. Help for Germanv

Mr Dudley spoke highly of the work done by the World Council of Churches through its refugee and reconstruction departments. The way in which it had enlisted the sympathies of all denominations affiliated with it was a cause for admiration. Literally hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of food and clothing and voluntary help was pouring into Germany. Mr Dudley said the German people seemed sure that Russian Communism was not the answer to their problems but very often they were forced into the situation of accepting that ideology to get the bare necessaries of life. He had met at Essen a Salvation Army officer who only a few weeks before had arrived from Russian-controlled Berlin. “She told me that she had known personally of people simply disappearing.” Mr Dudley said. “There would be a knock at the door. Someone would be wanted by the authorities on ostensibly legitimate business and that would be the last heard of him. I was convinced after talking to this officer and others that the stories of diabolical cruelty among peonle dominated by the Russian regime were true.” said Mr Dudley. The Allied Control Commissions had many difficulties, not the least

of which was the lack of suitable assistance and co-operation from the Germans themselves. Many capable minds formerly belonged to the Nazi party, and could not be employed by the Allies in founding the new Germany. Many others with executive ability and belonging in certain cases to the intelligentsia refused to co-oper-ate for fear that when Germany became self-governing they will be regarded as collaborators. In the British and American zones it was the intention of the authorities to transfer the administrative power as soon as possible to the Germans.

Currency Reform Under currency reform. German labour, assured that nominal wages would be equated with real wages, became available. Goods reappeared in the shops, the black market received a severe check, and trade began to function more nr less normally. Unfortunately the situation quite recently had begun to deteriorate a little. Som? firm action would have to be taken if the perils of the pre-currency reform period were to be avoided. One unfortunate result uf the reform had been the affect on those with fixed incomes. among whom there was real economic need. They preferred to remain almost on the bread line to seeking help from welfare organisations. He had found that the churches in Germany were filled. Mr Dudley said This might be accounted for to some extent by the fact that many churches had been destroyed by bombs, but he believed there was a new searching tor God.