The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1946. ALLIES IN GERMANY.

Evening Star, Issue 25768, 15 April 1946, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1946. ALLIES IN GERMANY.

The latest complaint of Russia against her Allies will have a good effect if it results in a closer co-ordination of policy—and . methods—between the armies of occupation in Germany. There are four zones of occupation— British, American, Russian, and French. According to a correspondent, Russia accuses Britain and America of failing to carry out a denazification policy aiid complains of inefficiency of their control. The charges,will Ibe made before the conference of Foreign Ministers that is to he held next week in Paris.. They are charges that ought to ba made and discussed in common if any ground exists for them at all. They would have been discussed better,. before they could assume the importance of charges, by the Allied Control Commission composed of the military leaders, but there have been no reports of that body meeting except on the rarest occasions. Russian leaders have not the discretion which is vested in British commanders, which might mako discussions with them, so far as policy is concerned, chiefly abortive, and appearances would suggest that each of the four zones, in regard to administration, has been very much a law to itself. No authority is more suited than the Foreign Ministers' Conference to secure a common policy. The problem is tlie most difficult that can be imagined. Denazification must be the main object of everyone, but liow it is to be achieved, except gradually, is another matter. Administration, if it is to be any thing_ more than coercion, can only be carried out by Germans, acting under Allied supervision and authority, and for a dozen years no German has had any experience of administration without being, iu more or less degree, a Nazi. Some may only have been Nazis for safety or for their daily bread, but the taint will adhere, and where there is no evidence of conspicuous zeal what foreigner is to decide how deep it went? One might conclude, that rule in the Russian zone has consisted of little more than military repression. That might have advantages for a while, as being theeasiest way, but no Russian forces will be able to stay for ever in Germany. Twenty years of occupation—FieldMarshal Montgomery has mentioned ten—will be enough for any of the Allies. It was reported recently that 'the number of Germans removed from cilice in the British zone owing to Nazi associations was 89,807. That total may be small, in comparison with population, but it may nothave_ been easy to increase it if was to he carried on at all. by anything better than military law, while new Germans are being trained. When the American General Pattonwas judged to be applying denazification with too much gradualuess he was removed to another position, that the pace might bo quickened. Tt is not only minor administrators who require to be trained. Education has been required for Allied soldiers in the armies of occupation, more especially later comers, who had not shared in the fighting, to prevent them heenming victims to German wiles. According to an American army poll of enlisted men stationed in Europe, only .14 per cent, of those who had snent no time in Germany felt favourably towards the Germans. The percentage rose to 42 per cent, among those who had spent less than four weeks in the Reich, to 54 per cent, among those who had lived there one to two months, and to 59 per cent, among residents of more than two months. To-day. it has been said by their own compatriots, roughly four out of five prefer Germany to any of the Allied countries they have seen. Germans, their women especially, take care to ingratiate themselves with them in every way; they all tell them how they disapproved of Nazism; the American soldier finds them the kindest, friendliest, most ill-used people lie has met anywhere. Tn a short time, it has been said, lie will be forming associations in America to preach that creed. It is time that there should be a common policy in the occupation of Germany.