GERMANY’S REORGANISATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 29 August 1945, Page 5

GERMANY’S REORGANISATION

PROBLEM NOT SOLVED AT POTSDAM (ReC; 10.45) London August 28. British Military Government experts are reorganising Germany’s chemical industry, says a Reuter’s correspondent A policy of destruction is being ca'rried out regarding all products which might prove useful in waging war. The policy on the other hand visualises big increases in the production of medicinal products and fertilisers. The Associated Press of Great Britain correspondent in Berlin quotes British and American technical advisors as saying the reduction of Germany to a nation of small farmers envisaged by the Potsdan. conference is a shortrange political necessity and a longrange economic absurdity. The correspondent says the majority of opinion of the men trying to effect such a transformation is that it will not work. Experts said the problem of Germany was not solved by Potsdam. It was merely consigned to several years’ experimentation at the end of which world opinion might de mand a fresh approach. Agronomists do not believe it possible for the present German government to overcome its existing agricultural deficiency. An English expert said. “No matter how well our schemes go, somebodv will have to send food.” The correspondent adds that the division of estates of more than 250 acres will be gradually attempted, bu' experts consider this will by no means solve the problem. PAYMENT OF REPARATIONS Colonel L. W. Jefferson, Director of the Reparation and restitutions Division •of the U.S. Group Control Council, speaking at a Military Government Conference in Frankfurt, said Germany must pay her reparation account to the United States by February 1, 1948. in I accordance with the time limit laid J down in the Berlin protocol. “While the j United States does not expect mui-h j material gain from any payment Ger- ! many can make, it is also our firm j policy that we will not directly or indirectly pay for reparations received by other nations as we did by assisting Germany after the last war.” The basis for dividing reparations among smaller members of the United Nations has not yet been fixed.