FUTURE OF WEST GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25483, 1 May 1948, Page 7

FUTURE OF WEST GERMANY

Reported Decision On Government

SIX-POWER TALKS IN LONDON (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, April 30. Delegates of Britain, the United States. France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg who are discussing in London Western Germany’s future are reported to have agreed in principle that a constituent assembly shall be held in September to draw up the constitution for a West German Government.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Herald” says: “If all goes well, the new Government is expected to begin work at the end of this year or early next year. The formation of a West German Government, it is observed, would solve the present difficulties about the proposed merger of the French zone with the merged British and American zones, for the zonal boundaries would then cease to exist.” The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: “The London discussions at present centre on the scope of the constituent assembly, and particularly on how much freedom jt should have. The new constitution would give Western Germany a good deal of sovereignty, but the occupying Powers, Britain, the United States, and Fiance, are likely to insist on some control over defence, foreign policy, and finance.”