GERMAN LEVEL OF INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25275, 29 August 1947, Page 7

GERMAN LEVEL OF INDUSTRY

FRENCH STATEMENT ON TALKS “ AGREEMENT FAR BELOW OUR HOPES” (N.Z, Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 28. The French Minister of Information (Mr Pierre Bourdan) disclosed in Paris yesterday that the measure of agreement reached at the London •talks among British, American, and French delegates on the level of industry in the British-American zone of Germany was far below what had been hoped. The French delegation to the talks had made reservations on the management ■ and control of the German coal mines and on the figures fixed for the level of leading German industries, including the machine-tool and chemical industries. Finally, the assurances given to the French that the raising of the German industrial level should not give German reconstruction priority over that of the democratic countries in Europe as a whole were felt to be too vague. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says: “In view of the secrecy imposed on the London proceedings, Mr Bourdan’s- statement was read with some surprise in official circles in London. ‘‘lt was noted that, whereas Mr Bourdan’s statement referred to a French reservation on the management and control of the German mines, General Clay, the Military Governor of the United States zone, who was also present at the talks, said in Berlin yesterday that' ‘the question of nationalisation was not discussed.’ It is well known that the French Government would prefer that no decision be taken on German industry before the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in November. “The French had hoped that the British and Americans would agree to guarantees, particularly regarding coke deliveries, but it is obvious that there are practical difficulties in devising such guarantees.’* _