The Allies and Bonn
Nothing could be more unfortunate than the tension that for various reasons has been created in recent weeks between the West German Government and the High Commissioners, representing the Occupying Powers. There may, no doubt, be some danger of exaggerating its importance. When a defeated and impoverished nation is being nursed back under tutelage to solvency and inde- pendence a point must inevitably be reached at which the views of one side on tutelage and the views of the other on independence are in more or less acute conflict. The disallowance by the High Commissioners of the Bonn Government's proposal to lower the income-tax rate has this week brought matters to a head. There are good grounds for emphasising the unwisdom of the Govern- ment's action. The release of more money for personal spending pro- mises an increased demand for goods for home consumption, when what is needed is the maximum production'of exports required to pay for essential imports such as food and raw materials. Failing that, either more subsidies for Germany will have to be found from external, i.e., Allied, sources or imports will diminish and either rations or employment or both will have to be reduced. It is proper for the Allies to make strong representations to the Govern- ment on these points, but the wisdom of a definite veto, following on a similar veto on a proposed Civil.-Service law and some lack of consideration for Germany's self-respect in the matter of entry into the Council of Europe, may well be questioned. If Western Germany is to be a democracy, it must, within limits, be free, like all democracies, to make mistakes. The question is what are the limits. Any tendency towards remilitarisation would have to be resolutely suppressed ; fortunately, no such tendency is manifest. Dr. Adenauer has been at no pains to ease the existing tension, but the technical conversations now in progress may pave the way to a practicable compromise. But the Allies, before deciding to act as a super-Government, must consider seriously what the effects of such action on the Bonn Government must be.
