National Socialist Catch Phrases Still Attractive

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1949, Page 5

National Socialist Catch Phrases Still Attractive

BERLIN, Mon. (1 p.m.),—“National Socialist catch-phrases have not yet lost their 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 that 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 an indication that political determination is gaining in strength and the Germans have seriously decided to take a course tovvards democratic public life.” The Christian Democratic Frankfurter Neu Press haUed 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 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 Presse said: “The Fourth Reich has donned a 'democratic’ uniform which the openly reactionary parties call a ‘livery.’ Anglo-Saxons, 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 the allied administration and with eyes glued to the

family table, Germany will wait.” The Communist Le Soir says the trend of the elections brings out the danger of reconstitution on France’s borders of an un-denazified, revengeful Western Germany.