West Allies May Consider Changes To Dismantling

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23092, 3 November 1949, Page 5

West Allies May Consider Changes To Dismantling

LONDON, Nov. 1. _ The three Western High Commissioners in Germany, with the approval of their Governments, have informed the West German Chancellor, Dr. Adenauer, that they are ready to receive any proposals he might have to make on dismantling, bearing in mind the fundamental concepts which are the foundation of the present policy, namely security and a measure of compensation to the countries which suffered from German aggression. Announcing this, the British High Commissioner, General Sir Brian Robertson, said it did not necessarily mean that the three occupying Powers were going to change the present dismantling programme, but it was an indication that they had not closed their minds to an alternative if their requirements could be met by other means.

The dismantling programme represented an agreement for which the Western occupying Powers were jointly and equally responsible and no alteration could be made in the programme without a further agreement in which each Power would have an equal voice and responsibility.

Initiative Must Come from Germans

Mr. John McCloy, United States High Commissioner, interviewed by the Magazine United States News and World Report, said German industry had not been revived sufficiently. “I have heard there is a good bit of concern that German industry is coming along too fast,” he said. ”1 do not believe it is revived far enough for its own good, or for the good of Western Europe. Mr. McCloy said that the initiative must come from the Germans if they wanted a basic change in the dismantling policy. “More countries are involved in this than merely the occupying Powers ” he said. “Their rights and interests, as well as those- of the occupying Powers must be considered. If the Germans seek to avoid dismantling, which is the consequence of former German aggression, it is the Germans who should come forward with serious proposals to avoid that consequence.” He believed that there was no chance of unity in Germany while East Germany was governed by a hand-picked Communist Government. ‘ He was convinced there was a serious desire by German and French leaders to co-operate in an effort to bring about a solid understanding between their countries. „nS e * rt ? an Z was ma klng a determined effort to become a contributing peacetui factor in the world community. He believed the people and the West German Government were trying sincerely to seek a fair solution of Germanv’s problems in the interests of the European community as a whole.