Oldal 4 [4]
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The meaning of Berlin.
All Berliners in a somewhat responsible position, are
unanimous on the following statement. They gladly accept the difficult;
and the danger of their position, because they realize the importance
of the role they are asked to play. The city itself, they say, has
been despoiled: it is materially empoverished; it has lost its position
as capital; it has been abandoned by most of its elite: the majority
of its outstanding intellecthals, scientists, professionals and artists
having accepted a more promising pbsition in one of the other German
cities,
Nevertheless, they feel, that Berlin has still a very
particular role to fulfill. It is one of the rare places, where West
and East meet. Thus Western Berlin is a unique observation and
propaganda post for the West: news out of the Russian Zone reach
it rather freely and the voice of the free world can penetrate from
there far behind the Iron Curtain. On the other hand, since people
from the East have still means of getting into Berlin or in touch
with Berlin, they have a place where they can see Western life from
their own experience and where they can check against the reality
whatever lies they are told through the Soviet propaganda.
." People in Berlin are convinced that, if Eastern Germany is
not yet as fully absorbed by the Soviets as other satellites, it is
because B-rlin exists, watches and str@gthens the opposition.
Very reliable sources assure that Moscow is much more annoyed by the
existence of a Western Berlin than is usually realized. A short
while ago, Soviets are even said to have made a secret offer, suggesti
that they would cede to Bonn all the territory of their zone West of
the Hlbe River, if the West would agree to give up Berlin.
Berlin thus plays a primary role in psychological warfare.
One of its most powerful means of propaganda is the radio that can be
heard and is eagerly listened from all parts of Eastern Germany.
The two networks that share in this privilege are Rias in Berlin and.
the NWDR ("Nord-West Deutsche Rundfunk"). Both Berliners and Eastern
Germans however are unanimous in criticizing their programs. They
agree that in past months a slight amelioration has taken place; but
it is far from enoughe People behind the Iron Curtain often accept the
greatest privations and danger, only to listen to the Western radios
What they want to hear is the truth about the West, is encouragement,
is enlightenment and is the stregthening voice of their Church. What
they are mostly given is ne athered from refugees or so~called
refugees, which describes sete sen conditions in a way which often
does not correspond to actual facts. in certain cases, it could be
retraced that such informations came from communist sources, in order
tó discredit Western propaganda. More harmful still are the appeals
broadcasted out of the safety of a Western studio, in the name of a
resistance group. Such appeals for resistance, heard by young people
haye already in more than one instance led to unconsidered and un¬
timely action, Unnecessary repressions and sacrifices are the con¬
SequenceSee. the cause of the West is not advanced by useless heroism.
What counts is that people in the Hast are strengthened in their <osores
resistance, know what is going on and feel that they are understood ani
backede 48.
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