Germans to Russia
The removal of some hundreds of German workers from Berlin and various parts of the Russian zone so readily gives rise to the worst fears that it is essential to know the truth of the matter. Hard facts are very hard to come by. It is reported on reasonably good authority that most of the men concerned have been working in factories producing not only electrical machinery and precision instruments, but wireless and radar equipment, and aircraft. More- over some of these factories have been concerned with research on jet propulsion, atomic weapons, flying bombs and rockets. So far, so bad. But it is not known whether the men went willingly or unwillingly. It is not known how much they were to be paid. In fact rumours are more plentiful than facts and most of these rumours are of German origin. Before any judgement is formed on this matter, it is as well to remember that German workers may also move from the British zone to this country on certain well-defined conditions. Nothing is known about the conditions of removal to Russia, but it is reported—for what it is worth— that the men travelled with their families and each family had a railway compartment to itself. Unfortunately the chief characteristic of this and all the other available details is that they come from outside observation rather than inside information. The readiness to condemn the Russians which has already been shown in Germany and here had better be directed to the right point. There may be much wrong with what the Russians are doing. But there is even more wrong with their arrangements for announcing what they are doing. Nothing does more harm to the Russians' reputation abroad than their own incorrigible secretiveness.
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