SCHUMAN AND ADENAUER

Then turning to Buchman, he said, 'I need your advice. For years I have wanted to get out of politics and write about the lessons of my life. I have no family or dependents. There is a monastery where I would be welcome. It has a library. It is quiet. I feel I could do my best work there. Will you advise me? What should I do?'

Buchman looked at him. 'Monsieur Schuman, what do you think in your own heart you should do?' he asked.

Schuman threw up his hands and a broad smile creased his expressive face. 'You shouldn't have asked me. Of course, I know I must stay where I am.'

Then very seriously he added, 'There is one thing I must do. I feel it in my bones and it has led me as far as I have gone recently, but I am afraid of it. I am from Lorraine, and I was brought up as a German. Then Lorraine returned to France and I became a Frenchman and served in the French army. I know the problems and mentality of both countries. I have known for a long time that I have a big part in ending the hatred between us. I have talked about it with de Gasperi.* He is in the same situation - born Austrian and served in the Austrian army, then Italian, and understanding both. We know that something can and must be done and that we are the men to do it. But I shrink from it.'

(* Then Prime Minister of Italy. De Gasperi was a pupil of the priest, Don Luigi Sturzo, whom he succeeded as leader of the Popular Party in 1923, only to be imprisoned when the party was dissolved in 1926.)

'Yes, you must stay where you are,' Buchman said. 'Under God that is your place.'

'One difficulty', Schuman went on, 'is that I do not know whom to trust in the new Germany. Adenauer, for instance, I have only just met.'

Buchman replied, 'We have had some excellent men in Caux and I can give you a dozen names.' He gave Schuman a list.

'I am going officially to Germany in the next weeks', Schuman said, 'and I will look them up.'

In Boucquey's guest book Schuman wrote, 'This evening spent with Dr Buchman and the close friends in his great work has been a treasured first step which will lead me, I very much hope, to Caux.'29

379