DISCUSSIONS IN MOSCOW

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 7

DISCUSSIONS IN MOSCOW

Attitude Stated By Bevin NO REPETITION OF POTSDAM

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, March .14. At the Foreign Ministers’ conference Mr Bevin told Mr Molotov that he had not come to Moscow to place the British Government m a costly position such as had resulted from Potsdam. Mr Bevin implied that snap decisions on political economic matters, reached at Potsdam without proper co-ordi-nation, had resulted in contradic- ■ tion and confusion. reminded the Foreign Ministers’ conference of the demands he made in New York that before German reparations were discussed in Moscow full figures should be available of what had been removed from all zones.

The United States Secretary of State (General Marshall), continuing the conference debate on the democratisation of Germany, said that America did not consider a society democratic if “men who respect the rights of their fellow men are not free to express their own beliefs and convictions without fear that they may be refused the right of work or he snatched away from their home and family.” General Marshall said that in the opinion of the United States delegation there was no unified guarantee of civic rights for political parties or unions in all -parts of Germany. Neither was there unified guaranteed freedom of the press and radio in all parts of Germany. “The United States'delegation considers there is no longer any cause to limit the movement of Germans within the country,” he said. “The time has xome to put a stop to all restraints.”

. He added that until all Germans enjoyed unrestricted access to information of all kinds, anti-democratic ideas would never be eliminated. Referring to the Potsdam decision to reconstitute Germany’s political life on a democratic basis, General Marshall said that the directive should . made , more precise with the object of introducing unified measures in all zones of Germany. Free German political parties should be enabled to participate in a free competitive election system in which each could obtain just representation. Free autonomous trade unions should also be enabled, to carry on their activities in accordance with the . ir members. He aaaea that the uniform movement of persons and goods throughout Germany must be guaranteed. el J ing j on lack of Press and throughout Germany, General Marshall said that if any antidemocratic ideologies were to be for ever eliminated in Germany, they must permit Germans to enjoy unrestricted access to all information contained in newspapers, radio, books, magazines, films, theatres, and music. General Marshall declared that the Allies would never make Germany democratic merely by the negative process of depriving Nazis of their positions of influence.

Mr Molotov said he did not entirely agree with General Marshall’s definition of a democracy, but said he would answer that later. He emphasised, however, that he did not think freedom of speech and of the press should allow the propagation of Nazi doctrines or doctrines with aggressive tendencies.

Reducing German Population Mr Bidault proposed to the conference that the Allies undertake an organised reduction of the population ,of Germany through emigration. He said: “In spite of years of dislike by France of German immigrants, France is ready to welcome some of Germany’s excess population.”

General Marshall, who was presiding, said that Mr Bidault by his suggestion had struck at the heart of the German problem.

Mr Bidault said France considered that Germany’s denseness of population, compared with that of neighbouring States, was a war potential. He proposed (1) to permit no new transfers of German minorities from other countries into Germany; (2) to halt such transfers now in progress; (3) to fcAbid the permanent settlement of displaced persons in Germany, and to expedite their resettlement in other countries. Mr Bevin said Britain would not consent to the forcible repatriation of displaced persons at present in Germany. He referred to the position of expatriated Jugoslavs, Lithuanians, and Poles. Numbers of German Prisoners All three Western Powers gave to the Fojeign Ministers’ Council their figures of German war prisoners held, thus forcing Mr Molotov to fulfil his promise to produce the Soviet figures, which he said would be ready later tonight, says the Associated Press correspondent in Moscow. Mr Bevin said the British had 435,295 war prisoners outside Germany, who were being repatriated at the rate of 17,000 a month. The rate would be increased to 22,000 a month on July 1. Mr Bidault reported that the French had a total of 641,483 war prisoners, including 593.267 in France, 19,601 in Africa, and 18,606 in the French zone of Germany. General Marshall said the United States had 103 German war prisoners, sick or imprisoned, in America; 1175 in France; and 13,825 in Italy. They also had 8000 Germans in labour units in the American zone of Germany, but they were to be swiftly dispersed. The Tass (Russian) News Agency has announced that there are 890,532 German prisoners of war held in the Soviet Union. It adds that since Germany’s surrender, 100,394 German prisoners of war have been freed and returned to Germany. Alleged Toleration of Nazis Mr Molotov promised the Foreign Ministers’ Conference that the Russian military administration in Germany would be instructed to check Mr Bevin’s charges at the conference that former prominent Nazis were holding high positions in the Russian zone, and would also be instructed to take, if necessary, additional measures against them. Answering Mr Molotov’s criticism that 35 per cent, of the German judges in the American zone were former Nazis, General Marshal said that 35 per cent, of the judges were former members of the German judicial system who had been cleared of any Nazism.

“The British and Americans in the western zones of Germany are encouraging the revival of Nazism by failing to purge German sports organisations,” says the Moscow journal “Soviet Sports.” It says that professional sports idols, such as the former heavy-weight boxing champion Max Schmeling, are still allowed to compete, and adds: “The Allies should remember that after the First World War sport was used in Germany as a cloak for military aims.”

The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says that Count Sforza, the Italian Foreign Minister, has sent a second Note to the Council of Foreign Ministers'in Moscow, repeating the request made a few weeks ago t<hat Italy should be allowed a hearing during the discussion on the German peace treaty. The request is based on the arguments that Italy is deeply interested in the economic future of Germany and has claims against her for damage suffered after the armistice.