TERMS FOR GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25089, 22 January 1947, Page 7

TERMS FOR GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

Guarantees Against Union Sought OBJECTIONS TO PROCEDURE AT LONDON TALKS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, January 20. Germany and Austria in their respective peace treaties will be compelled to forswear for ever any thought of union between the two countries. t- ? he Associated Press learns that the discussions of the foreign Ministers’ Deputies to-day centred on this problem of ensuring that the German-speaking peoples are never again united to wage war on the rest of Europe. Mr Couve de Murville (France) and Mr Gusev (Russia) vvere insistent that there should be powerful guarantees to this effect in each treaty and that a customs union and military and economic co-operation between the two countries should be strictly prohibited. The special correspondent in London of the New Zealand Press Association says it is learned that both Australia and South Africa are objecting to the procedure in dealing with the recommendations of the small nations sent to the present meeting of Foreign Ministers’ deputies in London. So far, no representations have been made to the deputies on behalf of New Zealand and as far as can be ascertained, no instructions have yet been received from Wellington about the official New 7 Zealand attitude.

South Africa submitted a memorandum to the deputies asking that written statements should be fully circulated and that the representatives of other countries interested should have the right to attend the deputies’ meetings and comment upon any oral statements presented. At present, while each of the invited countries may submit both written and oral statements, they must do this without hearing or commenting upon the views of the other participating countries. South Africa argues that all the countries which fought against Austria and Germany, whether large or small, should be fully consulted in drafting the peace treaties. The Australians also strongly support this point of view and on January 23. when they present their memorandum to the deputies, they will strongly urge reconsideration of the present procedure with the object of widening the basis of consultation. They may also ask for the formation of a fact-finding committee which would report to the deputies or to the Foreign Ministers before the German

and Austrian peace treaties are finally drafted.

Australian objections to the present procedure are reported here to be based upon the fear that it may be used aS a precedent to exclude the smaller nations from active participation in the preparation of the treaty with Japan. At present the deputies of Britain, the United States, and France are prepared to agree to fuller consulfations with the smaller nations about Germany and Austria, but Russia objects.