WEST GERMANY NEW CHARTER

Grey River Argus, 21 January 1948, Page 5

WEST GERMANY NEW CHARTER

U.S—BRITISH ECONOMIC SCHEME IS MERGED

(Rec. 11.40) LONDON, January 20. What is described by some commentators as

the first step in the reorganisation of the Anglo-

American administration in Western Germany took place yesterday, with an announcement, from Frankfurt, of the terms of a new charter, merging the Anglo-American joint Export-Import Agency,

and the Joint Foreign Exchange Agency into a new > agency, which is to be given complete control of a vast programme for raising exports from the combined British and American zone to the maximum.

The Times Berlin ( correspondent says; .The new charter complies with a revised bi-zonal fusion agreement concluded in Washington last December, and it is designed to “facilitate the. development of the bi-zonal area into a self-sustaining economic unit, which can be maintained, without further financial assistance from the United States or from Britain.” The new Agency will have a retired American banker, Mr W. J. Logan, as director-general, with a British Treasury official, Mr J. H. Cahan, as his deputy and the board of directors will consist of these two, with the financial and economic advisers to the British and United States Military Governors. The voting strength however, will be based on the proportion of "the funds made available.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent points out that this arrangement gives the United States members absolute control. He adds:

“The charter provides that German personnel will be employed and trained with a view to replacing the Allied personnel, and that the new Agency’s responsibilities will be transferred to German administration “as soon as practicable.” Mr Kevin's Lead LONDON, Jan. 19. The Daily Telegraph, commenting on Mr Bevin’s forthcoming review of foreign affairs, says: “The Foreign Secretary, in view of the breakdown of the Foreign Ministers’ Conference, is expected to give western Europe a lead based on to-dav’s realities, rather than yesterday’s hopes. Mr Bevin’s task is not an easy one. The tentative moves already made towards the integration of western Germany have succeeded in alarming the French without impressing the Russians.