TALKS ON FUTURE OF GERMANY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 13

TALKS ON FUTURE OF GERMANY

Permanent Big Four Commission Sought (ALZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) BONN, February 16. The, West German Government wants the Big Four Powers—Britain, the United Stated, France and Russia—to form a permanent commission to deal with the question of German reunification permanently until a solution has been reached, according to observers. . j

Ideally, the Government would like to see the Big Four Foreign Ministers’ conference, which probably win be heldrin May, resolve itself into such a commission, say reports in Government circles in Bonn. - i

‘ . This commission might be. composed of deputy Foreign’ Ministers, or their representatives, at ambassadorial level, much like the group that bargained for 10 years bit the Austrian State treaty.

If such a body does come into being, it would be the first Big Four group dealing continuously with the German question Since the Russian representatives walked , put of the Allied Control Council in Berlin in 1948. The Allied Control Council did not admit German representatives.

The West German Government is said to Suggest, however, that any permanent commission now ‘formed should admit German “advisors" just as it believes that the Foreign Minister’s conference itself should seat German “advisors” in the meeting room with the right ,of at least limited participation in their deliberations.

“Neues Deutschland,” the main East German Communist newspaper, said in a leading article today that both East and West Germany must take part as principals in any negotiations for a German peace treaty. The newspaper said that, a Foreign Ministers’ conference was not the way to achieve a peace treaty. “We think a peace treaty is necessary, and for this we need a peace conference.” it added. The newspaper said East and West Germany should not attend a peace conference in a merely consultative capacity, but as negotiators.