CONTROL OF GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 5

CONTROL OF GERMANY

ALLIED VIEWPOINTS DIFFER BRITISH METHODS HOT APPROVED (Rec. 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 27. The fundamental difference between the American and French methods of governing occupied Germany and the British and Russian methods has appeared, says the Associated Press .Paris oorrespondent. * France and America are determined to have a straightforward military government control in their zones with the Germans either removed from office or functioning in very minor capacity for a long time to come, whereas the (British have indicated that they favour making more iiso of the German officials from the beginning, giving them more leeway in the future with the ultimate idea of developing some kind of German governing force. The British are said to favour this system because they fear the Russians are working on the same lines, even faster than the western Allies, with the idea of giving the Germans 6orae sort of government around which the Germans can rally while the rest of Germany is under the domination of the western Allies.

The difference was emphasised recently when, at the same time that General Clay, American Deputy Commander, stated to the Press that the Germans would be under complete military control, Mr Churchill made a speech saying the Germans would be used extensively in governing Germany. Mr Churchill's speech came as a complete surprise to the Americans, because less than a week previously the British had indicated that they were operating along the same lines as the Americans. An American senior official said: "It looked like a trial balloon sent up. by Mr Churchill to see what reaction it would get at home and abroad. The reaction will not be too favourable. It is not yet clear whether he will go on with it or not. Virtually nothing is known of the Russian plans, but'past policy indicates that they lean towards creating puppet regimes answerable to Moscow." Another senior American source said: " Berlin is still on our books," as headquarters for the Joint Control Council, although negotiations with the (Russians for the entry into the German capital are progressing with infuriating slowness. One reason for the delay is that the French were never considered in the original British-Russian-Ameri-can agreemant for the occupation of Germany, and a French zone must be made available in Berlin. The most optimistic estimation of those conducting the negotiations is that they may be settled within 10. days.