NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE events of the past week should have taught any Germans who are still in doubt about it that patience and reason in their dealings with the Western Allies will pay good dividends. Two questions which have recently led to trouble when the methods employed by the Germans were those of force and arrogance have. since been quietly settled by negotiation and reason. The tax law which was vetoed by the High Commission a fortnight ago has now been modified and accepted. 'Dr. Schaffer, the Minister of Finance, has promised to balance the 1950-51 Budget, guaranteed that the Land Budgets will not be adversely affected by the new law, increased taxes on luxuries and tightened up the enforcement clauses. Since alt these requirements are in the best interests of the German people it is a pity they were not agreed to without the upset caused by the veto, but now that the matter has been straightened out it is best to let bygones be bygones. The other question now settled is that of the dismantling of the Hermann Goring steelworks at Watenstedt-Salzgitter. Once again, that which -the Germans did not obtain by rioting and the fault of the police has been granted after proper negotiation. The Federal Government and the Government of Lower Saxony have now submitted plans for the conversion of the plant to peaceful uses and dismantling has been abandoned in 15 sections of the works. Such demonstrations of reasonable compromise will probably do more to encourage truly democratic government in Germany than the most lavish expenditure on propaganda. The same process was more dramatically illustrated in Berlin on Monday when the May Day demonstrations in the Eastern and Western Sectors passed off without serious incident, and the disorderly behaviour of a few hooligans only marked the contrast between them and the vast majority of peaceful citizens. The situation may be rather more difficult to handle when the Communists hold their rally at Whitsun, but at least the right pattern has been set—police alert but unobtrusive, troops ready but unseen and the ordinary 'citizen free to do as he likes within the law.
