DEMANDS OF PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 60, 8 September 1945, Page 7

DEMANDS OF PEACE

DISTURBING TRENDS

LONDON, September 7.

(Germany is defeated, Japan is defeated, and the popular cry which is at present being sounded in both Britain and the United States is for demobilisation, industrial production for peace, and, if need be, a scramble for world markets.

There is also another note now being heard in Britain, and on whether it will be heeded as it should depends one of the important influences on the future of the world. It is that the Allies must not overdo this desire to "go home" i and leave the defeated enemies to their own devices and opportunities of pre- [ paring for their evil work all over again. Concern is being expressed that America may leave Europe too quickly in a desire to "get the boys home." At the same time, there are reports that Nazism is far from dead, but that small groups are active. There is also some uneasiness as to whether the Japanese, with their sickening attempts at affability, will be given an opportunity to fool the Allies. The demand is growing that neither the Germans nor the Japanese must be allowed to "get away with it," and sections of opinion are wondering just what influence the popular cries for a speedy return to normal life will have on it. Mr. Attlee certainly has indicated that the pace of Britain's demobilisation is influenced by obligations on the Continent, and these, together with the necessary force for the occupation of Japan, will no doubt be taken into account by the service chiefs when, during the coming three weeks, they consider the man-power requirements. Once having decided these requirements some policy for the replacement of men in the occupying forces on a rota and time basis will have to be introduced. PROBLEM OF GERMANY. j It is reported from America that i powerful currents are setting against the idea of a long occupation, and one statement is to the effect that the army believes the occupation period in Europe may not last more than two and a half years. This has caused surprise here, since it is believed impossible for Germany to return to any kind of rudimentary -working order in that short time. Economically it would seem impossible. That is only one side of the question. It is reported that Nazism is very far from dead; individually and in small groups, members of various Nazi organisations are working quietly to keep their movements in being. Much of this activity at the moment is probably isolated, but it exists. Pastor Niemoller, who is now one of ] Germany's key figures, has frankly warned the Allies that nobody can guarantee what will happen in Germany in 20 years. He declared: "The germ of Nazism is not one with which the Germans alone are infected. It spread so widely that it can never be eradicated entirely. "While the young people who lived through the closing months of the war in Germany will be healed of Nazism by events themselves, the question of those who are prisoners of war will be much more difficult. On a point of honour, from lack of an alternative, they cling to Nazism. They must be re-educated." Niemoller added that a form of democracy suitable for Germany had not yet been found. It is a fact that the question of what shall be done with Germany was a much more popular topic of discussion in Britain this time last year, when the war was still not won, than today, when it is over. Fortunately, with the defeat of Japan and the question of de- j ciding its immediate future administration the whole question is being again directed to the public's attention. BRUTALITY OF JAPANESE. ! The brutality of the Japanese to Allied prisoners is helping to harden opinion. Major-General H. D. W. Sitwell, former British commander in Java, who is now in England after being a prisoner for three and a half years, has stated: "I fervently hope that when" the peace terms are imposed our Governments will not be too kind to the Japanese. We must remember all the horrible things they have done to our soldiers. Unless we act firmly now there may be a new outbreak by the Japanese in 10 years." The whole question of maintaining the occupation forces and the policy adopted towards the Germans and Japanese will need* to be watched in the immediate months ahead, when the Allied statesmen may find themselves facing a popular clamour for a return to ''normal."