PLAN FOR GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 25941, 5 November 1946, Page 7

PLAN FOR GERMANY

BRITAIN'S PROPOSALS TO FOREIGN MINISTERS

ANY NEW CONSTITUTION MUST HAVE PEOPLE’S BACKING

(N'.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.)

(Rec. 10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 4. Mr Ernest Bevin is expected to submit a detailed and comprehensive plan for the future administration of Germany to the conference of Foreign Ministers in New York. He is likely to recommend the transfer of German local. Governments to elected German provincial assemblies, the formation of a provisional central German Government to administer all Germany with the exception of the Saar and the Ruhr, the speeding up of the preparation for the conclusion of a peace treaty with Germany and efforts to guarantee a minimum food ration of 2,000 calories daily to the German people. The ‘ Observer’s ’ special correspondent says Mr Bevin is also, likely to propose a system of international control for the Ruhr and the establishment of an international military force to occupy that area after the general occupation of Germany has ceased.

The British view is that any new constitution for Germany must have the backing of the German people, and that it should, therefore, be submitted to them in the form of a referendum before being adopted by the Allies. , : Britain’s greatest bargaining weapon in Germany is the economic resources of the Ruhr, and it is hoped that the offer to share these on an international - basis will influence the other Powers to agree to the general British proposals. These are long-term' proposals,, but it is recognised that prompt and energetic action must also be taken to improve the economic conditions in the British and. American zones. Mr Bevin indicated plainly when he opened the Foreign Affairs Debate in the 'House of Commons that, he will ask that the present restrictions imposed upon German steel production be relaxed, and Stalin has already indicated Russian approval of this proposal on general lines.. The immediate problem in Germany, as it is in Britain itself, is coal. The ‘ Daily. Telegraph’s ’ special Berlin correspondent reports that the power stations at Charlottenburg, Moabit, Steglitz, and . Schoenberg are . all closing down within a few (day’s time owing to the shortage of coal. Other reports state that industries all. over western and north Germany will be seriously affected. The' Berlin city Administration claims that the British authorities are largely to blame because their coal deliveries from the Ruhr are 135,000 tons in arrears. Britain has not complete jurisdiction over the Ruhr coal supplies. These are allocated by the

North German COal Control Com* mission, on which all the occupying Powers are represented. It is considered that* Mr Bevin will urge the diversion of larger coal supplies to German industries in order to avert the threatened crisis.