"Moses, Strong As the Oak"

Konrad Adenauer sat in the aura of his prestige in Secretary Dulles' dining room in Washington, straight-backed and spare his weathered mask of a face transformed by a wintry smile. "Now that Sir Winston Churchill is no longer active," said Dulles as he proposed a glowing toast, "you are the dean of the Western world." Three days later the old man sat grave-faced amid a rowdy powwow of the Oneida Indians in the student union of Wisconsin's Marquette University. "We like you to a Moses leading your people out of the wilderness," the Oneida chief said, as he crowned the old man with a war bonnet of bright feathers. "We rejoice in our hearts that we heard of your love for mankind, strong as the oak, and your fidelity, unchangeable as truth."

For five hectic and sweltering days last week, West Germany's Chancellor Konrad Adenauer toured the U.S. in the sunglow of the warmest welcome the U.S. had ever bestowed upon a leader of the Germans. He got honorary doctorates of law from Protestant Yale and Roman Catholic Marquette; he was ushered respectfully into the sickroom of the President--the first distinguished visitor since the operation; he was applauded in the streets of Washington, New Haven, New York, Chicag Milwaukee. Everywhere Konrad Adenauer bestowed upon his hosts a tried and towering good will, a sage and avuncular counsel.

Historic Tasks. "Mankind is fortunate he said, "that the people of the U.S. recognize the historic tasks placed on their shoulders, namely, to be the guardian of freedom in the world . . . But I should like to say here, in all frankness, that I think the situation is very serious, and that for many years it has not been more difficult than it is now . . . Germany is immediately and directly in danger, bi you are also in danger, my dear friends over here in the U.S.A."

On that general theme the old man developed his major points as he passed from speech to speech, noting that: P:Russia's "present leaders have struck a fresh note [but] they still seek the domination of the world . . ."

Principal aim of Soviet foreign policy is "to lull the vigilance of the free world and to weaken its readiness to defend itself. Above all, they want to smash first the mighty, protective shield of NATO and to drive the U.S. from Europe so that Europe will fall like a ripe fruit into the Soviet lap."

P:Principal ambition of all Soviet rulers is to equal the industrial and armament potential of the U.S. by "laying their hands on Western Europe, either intact or almost intact, with its industries, its excellent human and natural resources . .

P:A dangerous weakness in the American character is impatience. "To the Russian, time is not a very important concept. The free nations lose their patience too easily they want to see success too quickly."

P:Western Europe's one hope is integration. "I hope all neighbor countries will be aware of the fact that it is necessary, in their own interests, to give up some of their rights."

P:"The Soviet Union is confronted with serious difficulties ... If the West stands and remains united . . . then I think [the Russians] will be prepared for reasonable talks . . ."

Significant Boost. Between speeches, Adenauer flew to Washington for "a full exchange of views" with Secretary Dulles in the map room of the State Department. He came out reassured and relieved that the U.S. still seeks the reunification of Germany within the free world "by means of free elections." Adenauer and Dulles formally agreed: "Until the Soviet government puts an end to the brutal and unnatural division which it has imposed on Germany, it will be difficult to place credence in the promises and pledges of the Soviet gevernment." An aide reflected his chief's delight at this significant boost to Adenauer's prestige at home: "That means that reunification comes first for the U.S. It is by far the strongest position yet taken."

Adenauer also gave the U.S. a warm and revealing glimpse of the humanity that lies behind his implacable face--Adenauer grinning in cap and gown when Yale's President A. Whitney Griswold hammed up his Latin while presenting degrees; Adenauer barnstorming down Chicago's State Street behind a smart-stepping brass band; Adenauer wagging a finger at possible flaws in Washington's National Gallery of Art ("School of Piero della Francesco,, perhaps"); Adenauer boning up on his personal press notices at 7:30 a.m.; Adenauer falling hours behind schedule as he talked to those he wanted to talk to for as long as he wanted to talk to them.

When the time came for him to fly back to the political roughhousing in Bonn (the Lufthansa Constellation made the trip nonstop from Milwaukee in 13 hours 41 minutes), he got an unforgettable farewell. As his motorcade rolled out to Milwaukee's General Mitchell Field, waiting motorists blasted and blared their horns, while crowds swarmed out of shops and offices and homes to shout and wave goodbye.

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