Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 34

PAGE THIRTY-FOUR ST. PETERSBURG TIMES SUNDAY, WAY 20, 1945 fl MY? 12) AT WIE total defeat of Nazi Germany automatically cstab insuring that never again will she be able to embark upon The immediate task which confronts the Allies is to lishes an unlimited American commitment in Central maintain military communications for supply and reinforce a military program de-industrialization. Other forms of rt rt i i i i i i -1 1 Europe. ment, and to care for the liberated prisoners of war and An entire social order has been destroyed. A great ciujiwmt vunuuia nave oeeif studied, out eacn is ioo auucuu to apply for the long period that will be necessary.

People will inevitably lose interest, and there is no way of insuring military nation has been crushed. No government exists foreign slave-laborers. This job alone, under the conditions which prevail in the smashed reich, will tax the energies of the Allied armies which are today the only legal govern there except as provided by the Allied military authorities that German propaganda will not create sentiment against "harsh" controls, especially in America, which proved so In self-defense we are compelled to occupy, control and police a distant territory. In justice to ourselves and to our susceptible last time. Most controls considered would in volve equally long-term regulation of domestic life ex Allies, we are compelled to insist on reparation for injuries, punishment of war criminals, return of loot, effective dis wrath of the Allies during the last war, too.

Sheldon Glueck in his book "War Criminals Their Prosecution and Punishment," quotes an order of the German General Stenger in 1914 which echoes Buchenwald and Lublin. This order stated: Beginning with today, no more prisoners will be taken. All prisoners, whether wounded or not, must be destroyed. All prisoners are to be killed; the wounded, whether armed or not, destroyed; even men captured in large organized units are lo be put to death. Behind us no enemy must remain alive." But what did the Allies do about war criminals in 1919? During the war an Inter-Allied Commission functioned on war crimes similar to the one we have today.

At the close of World War I hostilities this Commission recommended strict prosecution of listed war criminals before an International ports, financial transactions, loan policies and investments-t-and experience has taught us not to expect acceptance of such for long. De-industrialization is the answer, and direc ment of Germany. The duration of military government as was originally expected, will be brief, especially since we propose to withdraw troops from the European theatre of operation for use in the Far East and for repatriation to the United States. However military and political necessity require us to substitute a long-term occupation system which will depend chiefly on civilians. For the political reconstruction of the Germans themselves, under the commitments already undertaken by the Big Three, there must be a complete re-education, extermination of Nazi philosophy, a prolonged period of supervised tives for carrying this out have already been sent to General Eisenhower for application within the American zone.

2. Allied Responsibility In Germany probation. All of the agen Is Staggering But Must Be Met The world-wide demand for security, punishment and cies of organized religion and education must be mobilized to deal with this Tribunal. But, largely through the insistence of American representatives at Versailles, the Commission's recommendations were watered down to the so called "punitive" Articles of the Treaty. problem, to supervise text reparation, with respect to conquered Germany, constitutes the final basis for continuing occupation and administration of that area.

The political, administrative and economic problems which confront the occupying powers in carrying out these de'mands are without parallel iri history. books and to police German schools and universities. In quick succession after this first softening move was In many ways it would i irst oi an, Germany must be disarmed and Kept dis appear simpler to allow the made, the Germans protested oVer having to turn over war criminals and finally completely reneged on their agree-1 Germans to stew in their armed, both with respect to the German general staff and military organization, as well as to the industrial potential own juice, except for the fact that the only hope of ment under the treaty. Instead they offered a "compromise" in which they would try their own criminals in German courts. Again the Allies backed down, even refusing to take the responsibility of supervising the trials.

And the German justice and retribution de pends on the continued existence of Germans, to make Junkers, holding a whiplash over public opinion, chortled armament and military emasculation of the German power. Appropriate organizations and agreements are already in existence to implement these commitments. The arrangements made at Yalta and elaborated by the European advisory commission at London provide for the division of the reich into four administrative zones Soviet, British, American and French co-ordinated by an Allied Council at Berlin. Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts has for some months been preparing to co-ordinate the American share in the recovery of German loot. The United States has long been represented on United Nations committees for reparations and punishment of war criminals.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, in co-operation with British, Soviet and French military authorities, are prepared to supervise military security. The Allied military government is responsible for civil ad-! ministration in Germany during the first period of occupation. Above all, the American state department is taking anj active role in promoting the formation of an effective world security organization, on the basis of Dumbarton Oaks and the San Francisco conference, and is supporting other United Nations organizations for relief, for food and agriculture, and for world finance. This represents a revolutionary change in American public opinion since 1919. Then, the defeat of Germany was nullified in large part by American policy.

Our refusal to join the League of Nations was merely the climax to a long series of diplomatic refusals to support a program of thor- ough suppression of German Our troops in occupation of the Rhineland fraternized with the German population, we opposed broad and drastic prosecution of German World War I criminals and constantly pressed for reduction of German reparations. Subsequently we provided a hospitable audience for German propaganda aimed at revision of the Treaty of Versailles. Not only has there been this great change since 1919 but within the last year the change has become accelerated. The poll conducted by Elmo lioper for Fortune magazine shows that the shift between January, 1944, and March, 1915, is in the direction of more drastic treatment of Germany. The gist of this and other polls seems clear: The Nazis have succeeded in making it possible for the United States to join the United Nations in drawing up an indictment of the whole German people.

This chance has made it nnssihle to annlv what annears with glee. Baron von Lersner, head of the German peace good part of the unpar alleled damage they have inflicted upon the world. And the only hope of permanent disarmament means long continued control and supervision. and "will to power." Nothing short of the complete military emasculation of Germany will satisfy a world which has suffered from a series of five unprovoked German wars of aggression within 80 years. Then, Germany must make reparation for war damage reparation in kind and reparation by forced labor to the nations she has devastated.

The total German obligation, measured in terms of property damage alone, is estimated delegation, crowed: "This first great demand which the Entente Government imposed on us by virtue of the Diktat von Versailles was shattered, like glass upon a stone, against the unity of the German people." The trials finally got under way at Leipzig on May 23, 1921, more than two years after the end of the war. Signifi 3. War Crimes Laughed at Last Time; cantly, America even abstained from naming any war crim U. S. Helped to Forgive and Forget America is not prepared by precedence to accept the vast responsibility of solving the German problem.

Ameri "Nazi party members are pledged to conduct an underground Mar." can history alone gives little hope that this country will live up to the tasks which it is committed to undertake now Fortunately, history does not necessarily repeat itself. by Soviet economists to exceed $200 billion. The London Economist states that at Yalta the Big Three tentatively agreed to accept the figure of $80 billions. After the last war the net sum paid by Germany on account of war reparations claims totaling $32 billions was less than two Too few Americans realize the extent to which this nation abdicated all responsibility after World War I. The inals to be tried, although Britain, France and Belgium did.

The preparations had guaranteed that the Leipzig Trials would be a farce. The Allies submitted a test list of 45 names from the original incomplete list of 900. Only 12 of these ever came to trial; six were acquitted; six received sentences running from six months to two years. Official pronouncements indicate that the United States will play a different role this Able Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson has been named as counsel for this c6untry in the prosecution of war crimes. And the Allied War Crimes Commission has indicated; that their lists will contain over a million names of those who, unless punished, will spread and keep alive the Nazi heritage.

senate refusal to join the League of Nations was but one factor in the process of abdication. It was the offi billions. Civil administration must be provided for a nation of some 53.000,000 Germans, inhabiting what was formerly one of the most intensively industrialized areas in the world. The only Germans who have any real knowledge of recent German administration are either Nazis or men like Schacht, who found no difficulty in getting on with and helping the Nazis. And the remnants of the Nazi cial voices of the United States that counseled "get- i -rr i i to be the one workable way of controlling Germany and ting-out-from-under" in all things.

It was this absolute refusal of America to take a responsible role in solving party are pledged to conduct an underground war designed to render Allied control ineffective. WORK OR CASH the after-war problems in WW ifW i Europe last time which provides the most glaring example of what not to do Social and economic confusion in the reich is in itself a staggering problem, even if no effort were made to govern the country. The bulk of the able-bodied German men are prisoners of war or dead. There remain old people, fanatic Nazified youngsters, hosts of Hitler Maedchen; and babies. The ruling group has gone into hiding, committed suicide or been captured.

today. be The example is especially War criminals must brought to trial this time. clear in the case of war Shall Germany pay in work or cash? criminals. The Gorman bent for atrocity brought forth the We ire compelled to police a distant territory GALLUP POLL Russia Building Tight Wall Around the Balkan States Public Favors Requiring German Prisoners In U. S.

to View Nazi Horror Films By MARQUIS CHILDS Catholics, AFL Oppose Use Of German Prison Labor By DREW PEARSON (Lt. Col. It. S. Allen Now In the Army) Copyright.

1945. Tne Bell Syndicate, Inc. ers of war interned in the United States. The army is insisting that the more than 340,000 such prisoners here be required to see the films made both by the army and by commercial companies, and the public backs this move by the overwhelming vote of approximately 9 to 1. 3.

In order that the German people in Germany may have unforgettable memories of how their former masters conducted themselves, the American people also favor the showing of the atrocity films to all German's in the reich. The nation's attitude toward the whole subject of the Nazi war crimes is shown jn the following survey results: "What do you think of the reports that the Germans have killed many people in concentration camps or let them starve to death are they true or not true?" By GEORGE GALLUP (Director, American Institute of Public Opinion) PRINCETON, N. J. Although some reporters who described th German atrocities felt that civilians here at home might find it hard to believe accounts of such frightfulness and horror, a survey shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans think the atrocity stories are true. The number of people who consider the reports of Nazi killing and torture authentic exceeds 80 per cent of the civilian population, the poll finds.

Giving wide credence to these accounts, the public approves the taking of certain steps, as follows: 1. A substantial majority believe it is a good idea to show pictures in movie theatres throughout the country of the 'horrible things that have happened in German prison and concentration camps. 2. A very large proportion of our people want such pictures to be shown to all German prison them, were exempted, but otherwise family ties were ignored. It was up to the provisional government of Romania to fill the quotas requested by the Russian military mission.

These able-bodied men and women were needed, it was explained, for work in Russia. Approximately 70,000 were turned over. On inquiry, our office in Bucharest was told that the men were being taken to work in the coal mines in the Donetz basis. What has happened to the women is apparently unknown. Of the 70.000, some had lost their Romanian citizenship because, under German occupation of Romania, they had enlisted in the German army to fight against Russia.

In other words, they were enemies of the Soviet Union. But the proportion of these former soldiers is believed to be small, and none of the women would, of course, be in this category. This is a moral issue of the first order. To approve or even tolerate the indiscriminate use of slave labor is to go against the very base of our civilization; against the qualities that make us civilized. That was one of the crimes of the barbarous enemy we have just defeated.

To use convicted war criminals at hard labor is legitimate and proper. But indiscriminately to take men and women out of ancient communities, breaking up the family pattern, is something entirely different. No wall around the Balkans, however high or however closely guarded, can keep that information from the rest of the world. True M. True, but exasperated 9 Doubtful, hard to believe 1 Not true 3 Can't decide 3 "Nobody knows how many have been killed or starved to death but what would be your best guess?" Among those venturing a guess, the median average was approximately 1,000,000.

"Do you think it would be a good idea or a bad idea to have movie theatres throuirhout the country show pictures of all the horrible things that have happened In prison ramps run by Germans?" Good idea 60 Had idea 35 No opinion 5 The 60 per cent who indicated approval of the idea, were asked: "Would you like to see them?" Approximately five out of six of these people either said they would like to see them, or had already seen them. "Do you think such pictures should be shown to all German prisoners of war in camps in the United States?" Yes 87 No 9 No opinion 4 "Do you think such pictures should be shown to all German people in Germany?" Yes 89 No 8 No opinion 3 WASHINGTON One inside question discussed at Yalta which has come up to plague the Truman administration is the use of German prisoner labor by the Russians. When it arose at Yalta, Admiral William Leahy was the chief man who opposed Stalin's plan to have German labor rebuild the shattered cities of Russia. However, Stalin was very firm on this point and Roosevelt sided with him. Since then the question" has arisen during off-the-record reparations discussions and high-up Catholic leaders inside the administration have opposed the use of prison labor.

So also has the AFL, Finally, however, a compromise has been arranged satisfactorily to oil sides. Germans who were members of the Gestapo, members of the SS, or party leaders will be subject to prison labor in rebuilding Russia, France and the liberated countries, but non-Nazi Germans will not. New Reparations Chief Ed Pauley took these and other German reparations questions up with congressional leaders when he lunched on Capitol Hill last week. "There is only one way to get Germany to pay for the ruination she's caused," Pauley explained. "She can't do it with money, because the Germans have no money.

And they can't do it with materials or exports because if we rebuild German industry in order to pay us in exports, then we restore her war-making potentialities, "Therefore, the only way Germany DO YOU BELIEVE ST OF ATROCITIES 1. IHW I r.wn. WASHINGTON For many weeks the tale department has been trying to obtain permission from the Russians for American newspaper men to go into the Balkans. The failure of these efforts thus far underscores the impenetrable wall which the Soviet Union has built around the areas in eastern Europe1 occupied by the Russian troops. It has been a struggle even to get diplomatic representatives into the closed capitals of Sofia.

Bucharest and Budapest. Weeks of negotiation were necessary before the Russians finally granted permission to the United States to send small staffs into Bulgaria and Romania. After a long wait in Italy, a similar rlaff has finally been allowed to enter Hungary, Efforts of American army of-firers to visit Budapest after its fall were repeatedly balked. The Russian refusal was polite enough, but nevertheless it was a refusal. The evidence is piling up that the Soviet Union intends to make the Balkans a sphere of influence in the narrowest meaning of that phrase.

Regardless of decisions in the realm of theory at San Francisco, that is the fact. Romania offers the most striking insistence thus far. The Russians first sot up a provisional government of a moderate character headed by General Nicholas Radezcu. But this did not last very long. Soon he was being violently denounced by the Communist press in the now familiar terms fascist and saboteur.

Next he was threatened with physical violence, and if he had not taken shelter in the British legation he would doubtless have been killed. This brought strong protests from the foreign office in London and the state department in Washington. These protests went, of course, to Moscow as the author of the maneuver. No one was deceived into believing that it was Romanian in origin. The Russians have ignored these protests.

Radezcu is still under the protection of the British, who are by now rather embarrassed by his presence. On another important issue the Russians and the western Allies are at odds. The Russians have taken approximately 70.000 persons out of Romania for forced labor. These were for the most part Ro- manian citizens. The State department has pointed out that no clause in the joint armistice U-rms signed by Britain, the U.

and the Soviet Union authorized such action. Our representatives in Romania have been able to find out very little about what has happened to these people, The Romanian government required to furnish JiMs of persons of German descent. For the mot part tlifso were residents of Transylvania, which had been part of Jlungaiy before tii last war. Many of these families, of Saxon origin, had settled there as long ago as the 12th enlury, The requested the names of men between the aces of 17 and 45 and women between the ages of 20 end 41). Some women, nurfing mothers imnr.j Pauley observed that he had had a survey made of the newspapers after the last war and found that within two years after the armistice, American public opinion had reversed itself to such an extent that there was more sympathy for Germany than for France.

NOTE This time public opinion is already veering against Russia, which in this war occupied the same position as France in the last. Why Miss Perkins Failed The story can now be told how the joint desire of two men that Labor Spr-retary Frances Perkins gain no prestige was partly responsible for the protracted soft coal wage contract negotiations, with resultant wild-cat strikes and loss of precious fuel to war industries. With the negotiating committee apparently stalemated and government seizure only a matter of hours, Miss Perkins prevailed on the committee to listen to her plan for settlement of the controversy. That was the afternoon of March 29. For two hours the negotiators courteously heard the secretary.

Miners' chief John L. Lewis expressed reserved approval of the Perkins proposal. So did conference chairman Ezra Van Horn, Cleveland, coal operator, while usually cautious John O'Neill, representing the southern operators, was for immediate acceptance. Lewis and Van Horn stalled for time, and the negotiators, after thanking Miss Perkins and indicating an early agreement, adjourned until nine that evening. Miss Perkins left, confident that she had done something really big in the closing days of her cabinet career.

But between the adjournment at six and the next meeting at nine, Miner's Chief Lewis and Coal Operator Van Horn collared O'Neil in Van Horn Shoreham suite. Both Lewis and Van Horn collared O'Neill in Van Horn's Perkins had submitted an equitable contract that both sides might readily sign, but they told O'Neill that to accept immediately "would give that damned woman prestige that would make her insufferable to management and labor alike." O'Neill finally yielded 'and later that evening Miss Perkins' proposal was not accepted. Then followed wild-cat strikes and damaging loss of coal. Negotiations dragged on Until April 11. About six o'clock that evening, with great fanfare and to an accompaniment of flashing camera bulbs, the contract was signed in the west ballroom of Washington's swank Shoreham hotel.

With one minor exception, the agreement executed was the one proposed by Labor Secretary Perkins 13 dayi before. Readers1 A Service TIMES FORUM More and More Editor, The Times: It has been my great privilege to spend eight winters here in this lovely city where hospitality abounds, where the sunshine and flowers bid welcome each day. The church going city proves to the tourist you will win as the years come and go. St. Petersburg, the garden spot of the south, each year I love you more.

MARY ETTA COX. tLt i b7. Q. What, is meant when it is said of a person that he capitalizes on his reputation? A. The inference is that he has a reputation for certain powers, virtues or position which he exploits for personal profit.

Q. How many guns are fired in the salute to the president and vice president? Twenty-one for the president and nineteen for the vice president. DAILY AND SUNDAY titer! oi 'ond-Ia matter of the Pot Cftir it Petprsrfjtjtg. Honda. PtthlishM viy fnorning by The Time Publishing Company train The "Iimei Building, fifth fmt A vo South, M.

Petenbuig, Flornia. 'juMct iptioo Rate Doily and Sunday: One year, U7j, i months, this monthi, $3. 75; in r'1onr and 3QC a weeks by corner, Tn-WeeMy 'fcy mail)' One yecr, in months, QQ; three month, S2.00 in adva-we, MlMBtR Of THI ASSOCIATED rRISS The Av.tx trjte'i Pfesi tt exclusively entitled to the uit tr publication of all news tiertited or rut c'lfAiii? df-dted t-j the paper omj (ilia the lo'ul "i ijubhslipd tnersrn MLiUN P. PGYNTER dl1w SHOULD ALL GERMAN can pay for her Pauley continued, "is through labor. No one likes the idea of slave labor, but the Germans have been accustomed to spending a certain number of years in the army, That, in a sense, is forced labor, My thought is, that since Germany won't have an army in the future, and since they are accustomed to conscription, they can now adopt reconstruction instead of conscription." 'FickleU.

S. Opinion Reaction of the different congressmen was unanimously favorable. Even GOP Rep. John Taber of Auburn, N. (a fruit and dairy area) made no objection, except to say: "I trust you will leave German prisoners in.

the United States where they are this year so we can get enough labor to harvest the crops." Pauley assured him this would be done, Sen. Tydings of Maryland concurred with the plan, but added: "The public will be with you on this now, but in one year you'll have the sentimentalists in this country howling about the starving Germans. So be pie-pared to have people turn against you later." PEOPLE IN GERMANY BE MADE TO SEE ATROCITY FILMS? SHOULD ALL GERMAN PRISONERS IN U.S. BE MADE TO SEE ATROCITY FILMS? Jack, You Said It Editor, The Times: My hat's off to Jack Remmert, whoever he is. Make Goering "open the book," find out who started this warr When you destroy Goering you also destroy the evidence that would convict the "higher ups." Let's make the big fellow pay once.

Isn't It better to let one "rat" live than allow thousands of big-j ger ones to escape? Jack, you have said it! JAMES 11. CONNERS YES 87 7. mm i.