FUSION OF GERMAN ZONES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 47, 5 December 1946, Page 5

FUSION OF GERMAN ZONES

EFFORTS BY ALLIES TO CHECK DETERIORATION Some Doubts Felt In Britain (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. The British press gives the announcement of the fusion of the British and American zones in Germany only qualified approval. A majority, while welcoming the proposals as the first definite step toward checking present deterioration, express doubts whether the devastation of the war years can Be repaired sufficiently in three years to guarantee Britain and America some return upon the speculative investment they are now compelled to make. Doubts arfe also generally expressed as to whether the sum of £250,000,000 sterling, which it is proposed to allocate, will prove sufficierit. The “Glasgow Herald” says: “The contemplated three years for recuperation may be sufficient, or more than sufficient, for the rural areas, but three years is far too short for the recon-*, struction of such cities as Cologne, Hanover, Duisberg and Cassel. Until the factories restored at least to the productive capacity of 1900, if not of 1939, it is difficult to see how the combined . zone can become self-supporting. It is probable that the suggested financial assistance may have to be supplemented, but in the meantime the important thing is that a forward move has been made.”

The “Manchester Guardian,” says that as New York plans have been forced to leave out Russia and France, they take on the appearance of iirstaid rather than a cure. Most of the concrete points in the agreement merely remove some of the more ludicrous obstacles which have so far made nonsense in advance of any attempt to handle Germany rationally. “The agreement does not end Britain’s troubles in Germany, but at least it means that we can begin to tackle them, seriously. Practical business considerations now compel us, even if other considerations do not suffice, to put money into Germany so that Gei’many may begin to help herself.” The “Daily Herald” points out that Mr Bevin was the first to draw attention to the necessity for ending the Potsdam impasse, and says that although the task is going to be long and difficult, it is satisfactory that it is being facM at last. “The idea that victory pays financial dividends has long been exploded, but the debts which it incurs should at least be kept as small as possible," says the "‘Daily Telegraph,” which emphasises the tremendous burden the agreement places on Britain, and claims that no agreement can be re-

garded as anything but second best unless it also embraces Russia .and France. “The agreement is wise in principle, but jj r e go on paying preposterous reparations to a vanquished foe,” says the “Daily Express.” “We are engaging in a speculative enterprise, but we have not one dollar more at our disposal than was thought barely sufficient for the needs of Britain alone.’ 1 The “News Chronicle” says: “The German skeleton has been raised into an upright position, but has still to be clothed with flesh and blood. The first big problem is fuel, and until there is enough fuel inside Germany to enable the steel industry to work at higher capacity, all the raw materials in the world will not set the factories in motion again.’ “To expect that the vast material damage and loss of manpower caused by. the war can be made good in three years argues no mean confidence,” says the “Yorkshire Post,” which adds that although fusion itself call be welcomed without any reservation, the methods 'by which it is proposed to regenerate Germany may need considerable revision. The danger is that the present plan may prove nothing but a waste of money.