THE GERMAN QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 7

THE GERMAN QUESTION

END TO DOMINATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Rec. 11.10 a.m. „ _ __ WASHINGTON, June 22. Mr. Bernard Baruch, who recently returned from Germany, told tlje Senate" Military Affairs Committee that in order to break Germany's domination in Europe once and for all. it was necessary to eliminate the war-making potential, shift many factories in the east and west to friendly countries, destroy all other heavy industries, break up the junkers' estates, strictly control exports and imports, and root out German assets and business organisations throughout the world. He said that the new equilibrium of Europe's industrial strength might take the form of a United States of Europe in which Germany would be one of several peaceful equals. This settlement of the German question could be used as a basis for a comprehensive agreement with Russia, because it would solve the Russian.question of security against Germany. "I believe we can arrive at a. lull, understanding with the Soviet, but. if it is impossible the sooner we.know it the better," he said. .. ...•■.-. Among Mr. Baruch's recommendations were:—(l) That Germany should pay the maximum possible reparations; (2) that she should be deprived- qt heavy industries, even where American and other foreign-owned plants were involved; (3) that German assets in foreign countries should be used to reioav the nationals of those countries for war damage; and (4) that Germany should be occupied until her spiritual and economic rebirth. He added that Russia and other countries were entitled to labour reparations, particularly if the labour battalions included Nazis, members of the Gestapo, junkers, general staff .men, war industrialists, and war financiersleaving ordinary peasants and workers in their own country. • ..

Mr Baruch is a member of the United States War Mobilisation AdmSistration and was formerly economic adviser to President Roosevelt