BRITISH ZONE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 208, 15 June 1946, Page 5

BRITISH ZONE

DEMILITARISATION POLICY GENERAL ROBERTSON’S REPORT (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Ree. 11.55) HAMBURG, June 14. The • Deputy-Military-Governor in the British zone of Germanyj Major-General Brian Robertson, said that Press facilities in the zone would be limited to exactly the same facilities as given in the Russian zone. He added that the British zone was “wide open” for an Allied Press investigation. General Robertson said the removal of industrial assets on the repatriations account wasi continuing. Four plants would be removed to Russia, and th£ first shipments would he made in less than a fortnight. This action by Britain was similar to that by America, who also* was dismantling and delivering plants from the first reparations list. None of the 3,000,000 members of the German armed forces demobilised in the British zone lias been recruited into the British armed forces. This is stated in a report on the progress of demilitarisation in the British zone, issued by General Robertson. The report says: “German armed forces and related military organisations in the British zone have been completely disarmed. All former headquarters staffs and unitsi of such ‘forces have been broken up and disbanded. Apart from the police, who are authorised to carry personal weapons, no armed- body at present exists in the British zone., nor is there any organisation which could be regarded as being of potential military value.” General Robertson’s statement gave the number of police as 52,690. “Since the permanently alrmed police force is against the British practice, weapons are kept at police stations and issued only when required. There are 147,672 former members of the German armed forces who have not yet been discharged,- and who are being retained for working groups of minesweeping.”

Agricultural Estates

General Robertson announced that Britain had decided to take over control immediately of all agricultural estates in private hands in the British zone. . . In releasing the report, General Robertson said there was a tendency to focus attention on the British zone. “We; have no objection at all, provided the light that is focussed is honest and correctly focussed. Our interest is by no means confined to clearing ourselves of charges made against us. We have the greatest interest in what is happening elsewhere is Germany. We do not suspect the Allies are maintaining armed forces of Germans in their zones. This is not a crucial point. Far more important is it to know that the Germans’ ability to make instruments of war is ruthlesesly being destroyed in accordance with the capitulation terms and the. Potsdam Declaration.” ; . General Robertson said the\ British delegation regretted the difficulties preventing a Four-Power Commission investigation of disarmament. Clearing up the “misunderstanding” which had arisen over the British de-Nazification policy, General Robertso’n said: “There is no question of the British stopping the process of .de-Nazification until we are satisfied it is completed in accordance with the Three-Power decisions and the Berlin Protocol,” The sooner the process is the sooner would Germany be able to'settle down to reconstruction.

General Robertson, earlier, dealing with Britain's interest in ensuring that Germany’s, war potential was being destroyed throughout Germany, emphasised: “We are not accusing any of our Allies.” Nevertheless the British authorities wanted answers to two questions: (1) Has the manufacture of war materials been stopped in all zones and, (2) have German scientists been stopped ' from making researches of a military nature.