Soviet Retaliation Foreseen

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 5

Soviet Retaliation Foreseen

Marshal Sokolovsky, the Russian commander in Germany, after a day-long discussion of the plan with his advisers, was last night re* ported to have decided after communicating with Moscow that it nullified all previous agreements on Germany and that future Four-Power co-operation was out of the question. German political reaction, according to the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail was unanimously opposed to either all or part of the plan with even German groups in the Western zones voicing strong objections based mainly on the fact that the Germans had not been consulted. Western Germans, the correspondent added, foresaw Russian retaliation, especially to the proposal for a Western German Government.

Pravda, the newspaper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, making the first official Russian comment on the Six-Power agreement, called it “a secret deal for Germany’s dismemberment,” which could never enjoy international authority.

The recommendations of the conference were:—

The conference reaffirmed the principle of non-discrimination against

1. international control of the Ruhr by an authority composed of British, American, French, the Netherlands, Belgian, Luxembourg, and German representatives. The German representatives should for the present be chosen and their votes exercised by the occupying Powers concerned. 2. The establishment of a Constituent Assembly for Western Germany. The Military Governors of the three western occupation zones should convene a meeting of Prime Ministers of the German States within their zones, who would be authorised to convene a Constituent Assembly for the whole of Western Germany, charged with the task of preparing a Constitution for the future Western German Government.

foreign interests in Germany.' The conference considered that the German people should be given an opportunity to achieve the eventual re-establishment of German unity. They should be free to establish for themselves political organisations and institutions which will enable them to assume governmental responsibilities compatible with the minimum requirements of occupation and control, and ultimately to establish a Constitution with provisions allowing all German States to subscribe as soon as circumstances permitted. The conference agreed that the proposed Germain Constituent Assembly should enable the Germans to play a part in ending the > present division of Germany, not by the reconstitution of a central-

3. The creation of a Military Security Board for the western zones during the occupation period, and maintenance after the termination of occupation of a system of inspection and control of industry to secure disarmament and demilitarisation. Benelux Interests 4. The association of Benelux countries in a policy regarding Germany is one of the recommendations which the Six-Power Conference- in London on the future of Germany submitted to the Governments of the United States, Britain, France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, according to a communique issued today.

ised Reich, but by a federal form of government adequately protecting the rights of respective State* and guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of the individual. The conference submitted and agreed to proposals for dealing with certain minor provisional territorial adjustments in Germany’s western frontiers. The United States, British and French delegations reiterated the views that there could not be any general withdrawal of their forces from Germany until Europe's peace was secured. The communique stated that the present recommendations in no way precluded, but on the contrary should facilitate, eventual four-Power agreement They were designed to solve urgent political and economic problems arising from the present situation in Germany.

The recommendation includes specific provisions for close association between the Military Governors and the Benelux representatives in Germany on matters affecting Benelux interests, with full opportunities for

Benelux representatives to be kept informed of developments in the western zones. The conference agreed that, for the political and economic well-being of Western European countries, including' Germany, there must be a close association of their economic life. The recommendation to establish an international authority for control of the Ruhr would not involve political separation of the Ruhr area from Germany. It would, however, contemplate control of the distribution of coal, coke and steel of the Ruhr to prevent the area becoming an instrument of aggression, and to make its contribution to all countries participating in the European co-operative economic programme, including Germany.

The communique stated that the London agreement on the Ruhr constituted a statement of principles which should form the basis for a more detailed agreement on the setting up of an international authority. This authority shall take decisions by a majority vote. The United States, Britain, France and Germany shall have three votes, and each Benelux country one vote each. The international authority, if the German Government does not carry out its decisions, may by a majority vote find that the German Government is in default. The international authority could then recommend to the occupation authorities enforcement measures.