GERMAN EXPORTS AND IMPORTS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25364, 11 December 1947, Page 7

GERMAN EXPORTS AND IMPORTS

Common Programme For Zones

AGREEMENT AMONG BIG FOUR (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, December 9. The Council of Foreign Ministers to-day agreed to a British proposal that a common export and import programme for the whole of Germany should be drawn up, but on other points discussed the Ministers found themselves facing the problems of Russia’s attitude to reparations and central German departments and Francefs attitude to the Saar, the Ruhr, and the Rhineland.

Mr Molotov accepted the British text of the proposals that all restrictions should be removed on the movement of goods between the zones, and that the resources of all ?ones should be pooled. He again claimed, however, that central German departments must be established before Germany could have economic unity. This was taken to mean that he thought the establishment of these departments was a prerequisite to the pooling of resources and the freeing of transit goods. Mr Bidault was not able to accept the British text on this point. Mr Bevin introduced proposals for sharing the financial burden of the occupation of Germany among the occupation Powers. He contended that repayment of the occupation costs should be the first charge on Germany’s foreign exchange resources. Mr Molotov’s discussion on this point led him to launch a tirade on the subject of the prices charged for coal produced in the British and American zones.

Mr Bevin commented that Mr Molotov, by raising this question, had raised a cloud of smoke over the issue. He hoped it would be cleared by to-morrow. Mr Bidault repeated the French demand for the economic attachment of the Saar to France and the French claim that there should be a special regime for the Ruhr and the Rhineland.

Mr Molotov was prepated to accept the British text in principle, but he wanted to add a Russian proposal referring to the fulfilment of Germany’s reparation and other obligations.