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Blame for Crisis
The Darmstaedter Echo showed
that the German food problem was
caused by the serious world-wide
cereals shortage. Indicating this was
a direct consequence of the war, the
paper said:
"The more one is silent about the
domestic balance of burdens, the
louder one calls for help from the
outside: 'The English and Americans
probably want us to starve. Why is
there no bread and fat in Germany?'"
"It is senseless to emphasize to
those hypocrites and slanderers again
and again that Germany has no bread,
no fat, and no clothing because for
twelve years we produced guns in-
stead of butter, because we destroyed
and robbed our neighbors, because
we led a totalitarian war against the
whole world and also against our
own country, because our destroyers
allowed the. pilferage of the remain-
ing store houses before their surren-
der..."
Food for Thought
The Weser - Kurier (Bremen), point-
ing to the difficulties from the paper
cut, said it is especially significant at
this time when tasks of political
significance have to be fulfilled:
"In the present situation every
newspaper question is, more than
ever before, a matter of considerable
public significance. A clean, free,
well-informed, and carefully reporting
press is as important as our daily
bread. And in the same way as lack
of bread may bring about a crisis,
the inadequacy of newspapers which
are cut in their size, will involve
considerable consequences.
"The outlook into the world, which
is so very necessary for us Germans,
will be narrowed again. The mental
values of our people as well as oar
surroundings will appear in a dim
light. In a time filled with political
and mental problems every failure
of the press counts doubly. Finally
most important political and econo-
mic decisions, highly significant for
16 JUNE 1947
all as well as for individuals, can
only be stated briefly.
"Die Neue Zeitung rightly said:
'The longing by the world public for
information has increased immensely'.
This is particulary true for the Ger-
man newspaper reader who has
starved for information for so many
years."
Philosophies Debated
The Hochland - Bote (Garmisch-
Partenkirchen) published an interpret-
ation of the struggle between Com-
munistic and Liberal ideas. Germany
has to decide which way to go, it
said, adding:
"In this struggle we Germans also
are not only objects as it used to be
but also acting subjects. Our country
is divided, single laender and zones
have a clear majority of one or
another tendency. The silly talk about
Eastern and Western blocs and the
still sillier coiclusion of a coming
war only prove the stupidity of the
monger who does not understand the
political and economic constellation
of the world. Uninfluenced by catch-
words and party programs everybody
should form his opinion on the great
ideas of this great time, and always
be aware that his attitude, too, decides
Europe's destiny as agent of power,
economy, and culture."
More on Mann
The Wuerttembergisches Zelt - Echo
(Schwaebisch-Hall) complained about
Thomas Mann's not visiting his native
country auad commenting on Gei:
many without having acquainted
himself with the new facts:
"We would gratefully have appre-
ciated it if Thomas Mann who knew
Germany and the Germans in the
past, would have visited us, if he
had listened to the Germany which
he denies his goodwill, if he had
compared and established changes
that took place... He did more than
just leave Germany aside."
-Post PWurmm
mentec[ on the Economic Council as
follows:
"The bizonal Economic Council set
up over the bizonal offices will have
authority so far unknowta to German
offices. This represents decisive pro-
gress compared with the earlier zonal
amalgamation which showed only
adequate results. True planning must
have authority. One must know the
working conditions in order to plan
at all. But in the German situation
planning makes sense only if it car-
ries out an economic policy mainly
in terms of increased production
rather than distribution of available
production."
The   editorial  concluded:  "The
Potsdam decrees are based on the
economic unity  of Germany, the
failure of which can hardly be
blamed on the United States and
Great Britain. The zonal boundaries
which do not mark off self-sufficient
economic-political  entities,  have
proved, according to Byrnes, as 'arti-
ficial barriers against the struggle of
the German people to regain her
peace-time standards'...'
Re-educating Nazis
The Fraenkische Presse (Bayreuth)
proposed training interned Nazis in
needed skills and teaching them
democracy:
"A large number of interned Nazis
have professions which, according to
law, they will not be allowed to
practice after their release. Some
were teachers -and officials, some
were propagandists, professional sol-
diers, and so on. Therefore, it is
necessary to prepare them for a new
profession, in addition to their being
occupied with emergency and other
clear-up  work.  The   government
should organize practical courses
where the Nazis are trained for
shortage skills such as masons, car-
penters, painters, and metal workers.
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