LEVEL OF GERMAN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25274, 28 August 1947, Page 7

LEVEL OF GERMAN INDUSTRY

French Concession Reported “GREAT” INCREASE APPROVED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 26. France has agreed, in the tripartite talks m London on the level of German industry in the British and American zones, that the level should be greatly increased to aid European economic recovery. Britain and America have given France a general assurance that the new level will not entail priority for the Ruhr’s rehabilitation over France’s own recovery plans or the recovery of other Allied countries m Europe. The diplomatic correspondent of Reuters, quoting an authoritative statement to this effect, says that France has agreed to the immediate publication of the plans for the new level of German industry. It is emphasised, he adds, that the British and American figure has been adopted as a measure within the bizonal merger agreement, and is a result of British and American determination to make the joint zone viable, to relieve Britain and America of their economic burdens, and to enable Germany to contribute to the European economy. . Observers in London say that the talks have achieved real success in clearing up misunderstandings *which previously existed among America, Britain, and France about the coordination of planning in western Germany. It is reliably forecast that the talks will not produce hard decisions on the future form of international control of the Ruhr. The delegates have exchanged views, but a decision awaits the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in November, and in any case the result of the Washington talks on Ruhr coal will affect the issue.