RUSSIA’S SHARE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 7 August 1945, Page 5

RUSSIA’S SHARE

GERMAN PROPERTY ABOUT 50% UNDER P6TSDAM AGREEMENT New York. Aug. 1. The Potsdam agreement has the effect of giving Russia approximately 50 oer cent, of moveable German property acocrding to officials with a knowledge of the preliminary negotiations at Potsdam, says the “New York Times” Washington correspondent. The negotiators had an estimate of how the property should be divided between the eastern and,western zones, which showed approximately 45 per cent, of the total German capital assets covered by the agreement in the Russian zone. The high percentage surprised those who considered the* bulk of German industries were in the west, but it was pointed out that during the war and the immediate pre-war period the Germans had built up industry in the east, where it established some of the nation’s largest and most efficient units. In addition. 45 per cent of the total moveable. German equipment is reported to be situated in the Russian zone. The Soviet was given under the Potsdam agreement 10 per cent, of certain capital equipment in the western zone, making the total Russian gain roughly 50 per cent, of the whole moveable equipment. Reparations claims of all the United Nations in the war against Germany except Russia must be satisfied from the remainder of the equipment in the western zone. The bulk of the equipment would be used to satisfy reparations demands of such countries as France. Holland and Belgium, since it is assumed the United States desires none of the equipment. Britain has relatively little. QUESTIONS NOT SETTLED Questions raised but Unsettled at Potsdam are understood to be the following: first, the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iran, raised by Britain. Secondly, the Russian delegation is reported to have made it clear that the Soviet desired a revision of the Montreux Convention governing the passage of ships through the Dardanelles. The question probably will be considered later by the Black Sea Powers and the Council of Foreign Ministers. Thirdly. Russians reported t'’ have proposed that at least part of the Italian colonial empire should be placed under a trusteeship in such a manner that the Soviet and other principal Allies would have joint authority. Fourthly, a four-Power conference to settle the Syrian-Lebanon issue. Russia favoured a conference. Britain and America, it is reported, opposed it. It is presumed at Washington that Russia wished lo have the Dodecanese placed under a trusteeship instead of ceded to Greece as suggested by Britain and America.. It is known there is general agreement among the "Big Three.” Italy should be deprived of her possessions in the Aegean and Africa, but future control of these areas is undecided. TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS Officials just returned from Potsdam regard the report of war guilt trials starting in Nuremburg on Ist September too optimistic, but it is believed they will begin some time in September. Nuremburg is regarded as the main trial centi’e with subsequent hearings held in courts in various occupation zones. Nuremburg was chosen not only because the city ranks high in the history of Nazi terrorism but because the courthouse is situated within a large compound with tunnel connections between the prison and the court, considerably simplifying the security problem. A joint military tribunal comprising Britain, America, Russia, and France will tr£ a selected group of Nazi arch-criminals. The group may total 25 to 30, presumably including men like Goering, Ribbentrop, Hess, high Gestapo officials and leading Nazi industrialists. Ample press facilities are reported to-have been planned. One of the principal difficulties in settling the procedure has been to reconcile Russian-French and British•Araerican judicial concepts. NEXT CONFERENCE? New York, Aug. 4. The correspondent of the Associated Press of America says President Truman at the close of the Potsdam talks suggested to Generalissimo Stalin and Mr Attlee that if another “Big Three”

conference was held it should be in Washington. Generalissimo Stalin smiled and responded “God willing.”