ADMINISTERING GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24568, 17 May 1945, Page 5

ADMINISTERING GERMANY

Allied Commanders To Report

DOENITZ’S GROUP UNDER CONTROL

(N.Z Press Association— Copyright)

(Rec 1.10 a.m.) LONDON. May 16. “Steps to deal with German war criminals are believed to be among the problems on which General Eisenhower and Field-Marshal Montgomery will report during their visit to London,” says Reuter’s military correspondent. “There will be no confirmation of the lists prepared by different countries. The British War Crimes Commission has reaffirmed its decision not to publish the British list. It will issue in future a weekly communique. “Men like Goering, it is believed, will not be brought to formal trial, but will be dealt with on the executive level. “Other big issues on which information is being sought from the Allied commanders are reported to be: "(1) The present and future status of the Doenitz ‘Government’ in Germany and measures , for disarming the German forces which has hitherto been a purely military matter. “(2) Adjustment of the occupation zones according to the earlier agreements.

“(3) Constitution of the Central Control Commission. (In view of FieldMarshal Alexander’s preoccupation with the Mediterranean area, FieldMarshal Montgomery will probably be the British representative.) “(4) The problem of 20,000.000 to 30,000,000 displaced persons who have to be fed, nursed, and repatriated. Many have no country to which they can return, and far-reaching decisions will be needed." . Doenitz “Government" “Close control of the activities of the Doenitz ‘Gpvernment’ at Flensburg has been achieved by a mission of Supreme Headquarters officials," says the "Evening Standard” correspondent at Reims. “When the Allied mission arrived at Flensburg it found that remnants of the German High Command representing the Navy. Army, and Air Force, had been established there. The Command, with elements of a number of other Reich Ministries, has been taken over on a basis described as ‘seize and freeze.’ The Allies will decide what elements, if any, are useful in administering Germany. "The Flensburg radio was earlier taken over to prevent a recurrence of unauthorised broadcasts which presented news with a Nazi bias, suggesting conflict between the Russians and the Western Powers.

“A Reims official said that the apparent confusion surrounding the relation of the stop-gap Doenitz regime to the Allied military authorities resulted from the non-military nature of the problem involved. The official expressed the hope that the public would realise that the task of reconverting a vast military operation to a co-ordinat-ed venture in civilian administration could not be accomplished in a day."

GOERING LISTED AS CRIMINAL

LONDON, May 15. The United Nations War Crimes Commission confirms that Goering is on the war criminals list. The commission has issued the following statement: "With reference to recent discussions in the newspapers as Jo whether Goering is included in the list of war criminals, the commission desires to state that Goering’s name, in November, 1944, was placed on the commission’s first list of persons charged with war crimes.” The correspondent of the Associated Press with the American 7th Army quotes an official announcement to the effect that there were no handshakes or chicken dinners for Goering while he was at 7th Army headquarters. Goering was not given special quarters. but was confined in a detention camp.

“Lieutenant-General Patton’s troops have captured Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Himmler’s deputy, and possibly the most important Nazi next to Goering yet taken by the Allies,” says the correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" with the 3rd Army. 4 Kaltenbrunner was surprised and trapped in a mountain hideout in the Tyrol. He is probably the only man who knows where Himmler is.

LAST WAR DEBTS TO U.S.

(Rec. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 15. President Truman, at a press conference, said he was in favour of the repeal of the Johnson Act, which places restrictions on private loans to countries in default on their last war obligations. Mr Truman read from Mr Roose* Veit's message to Congress in January asserting that the repeal of the Act was necessary to achieve an adequate flow of essential trade. He added: “Mr Roosevelt’s statement is as true as it can be. There can be no reduction in taxation until the war against Japan is completely won."

OCCUPATION OF

GERMANY

STERN U.S. MILITARY

RULE

STATEMENT BY TRUMAN ON PRESS FREEDOM

WASHINGTON, May 15.

The full meaning of the stern military government the United States is Imposing on Germany in the American occupation zone is found in the penalties provided. The death sentence may be imposed for more than a dozen offences, including espionage, communication of information which may endanger the Allies, unlawful possession of firearms, conduct or acts supporting the Nazi Party, or acting In defiance or contravention of the terms imposed op Germany. Heavy sentences await those who disobey the curfew, offer bribes to members of the Allied forces, spread rumours calculated to alarm or excite the Allied forces, or refuse to give required information. Collective fines may be imposed on a community where a substantial number of residents are found collectively responsible for offences. Three types of military government courts have been established—the general court may impost any sentence, including death, the intermediate court may impose imprisonment up to 10 years and fines up to 10,000 dollars, and the summary court may impose sentences uo to one year or fines up to 1000 dollars. „ . The Associated »Press says that General Eisenhower drew up the ordinances as the armies advanced into Germany. They do not necessarily represent the precise policies of the other Allies in their respective zones.

No Free Press Yet

President Truman said to-day that General Eisenhower had issued no policy or qrder dealing with the importation of publications into Germany. General Eisenhower had expressed his personal opinion that a free press ana the free .flow of information and ideas should prevail in Germany in a manner consistent with military security. Ho emphasised, however, that there could be no restoration of a free German press until the elimination of the Nazi and military influence had been completed. The President commented: “We are not going to lose the peace by giving licence to the Nazis or the military so that they can misuse democratic rights in order to attack democracy as Hitler did. I agree with General Eisenhower.” . , , _ Mr Truman said that he and General Eisenhower were in agreement that a free press should prevail in Germany in a manner consistent with military security. He added: “This is a reversal pf the position taken last week by the Office of War Information Chief (Mr Elmer Davis), who contended that information reaching the Germans should be strictly controlled.” „ . , , Mr Truman said that Mr Davis had acted in good faith, but he had misunderstood the policy agreed upon.