GERMAN CONSTITUTION PLANS DIFFER AT THE MOSCOW TALKS

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 5

GERMAN CONSTITUTION PLANS DIFFER AT THE MOSCOW TALKS

(Rec. 6.30) LONDON, March 22. M. Molotov told the Foreign Ministers at Moscow that Russia believed that decentralised government should be restored in Germany, says the Associated Press, quoting the Moscow radio. “Hitlerite centralisation’’ must be liquidated, he said. Provincial government must be restored. Democratic elections must be held to establish an all-German two-charter

parliament. The Allies should first establish central German administrative departments of finance, industry, transport, communications and foreign trade, in accordance with Potsdam decisions. The Allied Control Council should then co-operate with democratic parties, trade unions and representatives of the provinces to draft a provisional constitution. Elections should be held in accordance with this constitution. A provisional government should be formed and charged with the task of democratising Germany; of eradicating militarism and fascism; and of fulfilling obligations to the Allies. The final step would be the working out of a permanent constitution, which must be approved by the German people. The parliament should elect a German president. The constitution should guarantee freedom of democratic institutions and freedom of speech, the press and religion. M. Molotov suggested that the Allies should go back to the Weimar Republic as a basis from which to create a new German Government. He warned that a weak Germany would be a source of trouble for all Europe. He criticised those who proposed a Federal Germany with the purpose of dismembering Germany. would be a serious danger To the future, because the idea of a unified Germany was “so dear to the German nation,” and would be passed on to German militarists, who might attempt to restore a militarist state. M. Bidault said that France considered that plans for a German provisional government were premature and France would demand that Germany should first serve an apprenticeship in democracy. France wanted the German Government, when it came, to be a very loose federation, with ’most of the power in the provinces or the States. Mr Bevin said that in the Weimar Republic the president had the power to suspend the constitution. General Marshall tabled an American plan which is similar to the British plan. America suggested that the German constitution should be modelled on the United States system, emphasising the States’ rights, and recognising that all oplitical power originates in the people.

The Council adjourned after appointing a committee from the delegation staffs to list all the points of disagreement on the Allied Control Council's report on Germany.