Sharp Reaction To Polls In German Press

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23025, 16 August 1949, Page 5

Sharp Reaction To Polls In German Press

(N.Z.P. A.—Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) BERLIN, Aug. 15. “The National Socialist catch phrases have not yet lost attraction in spite of bitter experiences,” said the British licensed newspaper Montags Echo, commenting on the election results.

“A cheap nationalism is again in being which lives on differences with the occupying Powers and which will not admit the occupation Powers would not have been in Germany if the vilest form of nationalism—national socialism—had not misused the German nation and the world.”

The American occupation organ Neue Zeitung. however, said: “The high participation figure can be taken as indicating political determination is gaining in strength and the Germans have seriously decided to take a course towards democratic public life.” The Christian Democrat paper, Frankfurter Neue Press hailed the election as a “clear vote against communism and favouring the economic policy followed so far.”

The Soviet-licensed National Zeitung said the Western Berlin electorate would be disillusioned if it believed that economic recovery was in sight. They will recognise in a few weeks that American bananas and oranges will remain forbidden fruits.”

In Paris the Right-wing Paris Fresse said: “The Fourth Reich has donned a ‘democratic’ uniform which openly reactionary parties call a ‘livery’ AngloSaxons, with goodwill and optimism, try to believe this time the cowl will make the monk. Having voted with one hand on a wallet fattened by Allied administration with eyes glued to the family table, Germany will wait.” The Communist paper Le Soir says the trend of the elections brings out the danger of the reconstruction on France’s borders of an undenazified revengeful Western Germany.