STATE OF. WAR ENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27500, 21 September 1950, Page 7

STATE OF. WAR ENDED

Big Three Decisions On Germany SUPREME POWERS RETAINED New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 19. Agreement to end the state of war with Germany was announced today by the Foreign Ministers of the United States, Britain, and France —Mr Dean Acheson, Mr Ernest Bevin, and M. Robert Schuman. The Big Three Ministers made it plain that by ending the state of war with Germany they did not intend to end the military occupation of the country. The action would not affect the rights and status of the three Powers in Germany, which rested upon other bases. It would, however, create a firmer foundation for developing the structure of peaceful and friendly relationships, and would remove disabilities to which German nationals are subject.

The Big Three communique on Germany brings Western Germany far along the road to becoming an independent member of the Western European community, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. The three Western occupying - Powers, officials pointed out, have retained for the present the supreme powers which have formed the legal basis of their occupation of Germany since her unconditional surrender. Within these over-riding powers, however, the practical authority of the Federal Government of Bonn, and of the provincial governments, to control the day-to-day lives of Germans at home and abroad has been strengthened in almost every field. More than this, the communique plainly forecasts a further revision of reserve powers and existing controls. These will be the subject of continuing work by the tripartite study group in London, of discussions between the high commissioners and the Bonn Government, and of the outcome of the North Atlantic Council’s final decisions in New ’York on German military participation in the defence of Western Europe.

promised to broaden the West German Government’s authority for action independent of Allied vetoes. . . The communique said the decisions reached “ represent a major advance towards the progressive return of Germany into partnership in Western Europe, and the consolidating of the Western nations in their efforts to establish a firm basis for the future peace of Europe and the world.” Mr Emanuel Shin well and M. Jules Moch, the British and French Defence Ministers, have been called to New York to discuss the problem of German rearmament with the Big Three Foreign Ministers. Satisfaction in Germany

At the West German capital of Bonn the West German Chancellor, Dr Konrad Adenauer, described the communique as a “ very substantial progress in the relations between us and the Western Allies.” The Allied High Commission earlier sent a Note to the Chancellor! explaining the . decisions of the New York conference. “There is a new tone in this Note—a tone which was absent in similar communications in the past,” Dr Adenauer said. * He said that the Foreign Ministers’ decisions “ met the very essential wishes of the German people.” He called a special meeting of the Federal Cabinet for tomorrow td discuss the West’s new policy towards Germany. Warning To Communist Powers In diplomatic quarters in London the decision of the three Western occupation Powers to give the West German Republic an automatic security guarantee is interpreted as a firm warning to the Communist Fowers. The intention of the move is considered to be twofold. It is believed first to aim at impressing on the Governments east of the Iron Curtain that any attempt to turn Germany into a second Korea will be fought from the - outset. It is also thought to be intended to meet the repeated requests of Dr Adenauer for a more explicit statement that the occupation Powers regard themselves as committed to the defence of the Federal Republic. In the past the Bonn Government has had to be content with the assurance that West German territory comes within the area covered by the “security umbrella” of 1 the Atlantic Treaty. Now it has been given a guarantee of automatic assistance which goes beyond that contained in the text of the Atlantic Treaty. A French Foreign Office spokesman; commenting on the decision, said: “This means that Germany has geographically been included , in the Atlantic Treaty. It is obvious that West Germany is part of Western Europe, and if it is attacked that means an attack on , Europe. I believe the French Government, Parliament, and people will welcome this announcement.” Referring to the provision for an increase in the level of German steel production, the spokesman said; “Whenever it is necessary for the defence of Western Europe the limit of German steel production can be raised above 11,100,000 tons. This means that if, for example, Great Britain, France, and the United States want more steel plates for tanks they will be able to order these from plants in Germany.” The spokesman said that France hoped a compromise would be reached on . the controversial question of the United States proposal to include German contingents in the Western European defence set-up—opposed by M. Schuman at the Big Three meeting in New York. “It is a mistake to decide on something that is impossible to achieve now,” he said.

The Big Three Foreign Ministers have not yet discussed the Japanese Peace Treaty, but the American draft is reported to be complete. It is likely to be presented by Mr Acheson to Mr Bevin and M. Schuman before they leave New York. Other Decisions

The Ministers also decided:— 1. To permit the establishment of mobile police formations organised on a State basis, but with provisions which would enable the Federal (West German) Government to make effective use of all or part of this fofce in order fully to meet the “ exigencies of the present situation.” 2. To review the present prohibition and limitations on German industries. . 3. To remove immediately all restrictions on the size, speed, and number of commercial cargo ships built by Germany for export. 4. To permit steel to be produced beyond the present limits laid down by the Allies wherever such increased production would “ facilitate the defence effort of the West.” „ 5. To permit West Germany to set up a Ministry of Foreign. Affairs to handle its own foreign relations, now handled by the Allies. German Participation in Defence The Foreign Ministers said that they had ! given serious consideration to the problem of favouring German participation in the defence of Western Europe. No decision had been reached on this question, but “study and exchange of views ” would continue on it. However, the Ministers ruled out any idea of rebuilding the German army outside the framework of common European defence. They said; “The Ministers are fully agreed that the reaction of a German national army would not serve the best interests of Germany or Europe. They also believe that this is the view of the great majority of the German people.” i The Ministers made it clear any attack upon Berlin or upon Western Germany would be regarded as an attack upon the occupying nations themselves.

The Big Three pledged themselves in conjunction with the Nprth Atlantic Treaty organisation to see that the necessary measures to safeguard the security of the free world in Europe and Asia would be worked out and applied with the greatest possible despatch. The Ministers - said that -they agreed that the efforts of the United Nations to resist threats to peace and achieve peaceful settlements would receive their firmest support. Without- saying just what control powers they would give up, the Allies

EFFECTS OF MINISTERS’ DECISIONS

Officials of the three delegations, amplifying the terms of the Big Three Ministers’ communique, gave this interpretation of its effects: — 1. The present authorisation for the Federal (West German) Government to recruit 10JHM) mobile police under a central authority for the maintenance of internal security is raised to the immediate target of 30,000. This figure will be subject to a further upward review.

The new force will be recruited on a State basis. It will received uniform training and equipment, and will be armed with light arms, including automatic weapons and scout cars, but not tanks. There will be a central inspector-general for this new force, which will not be restricted in its operation to the State in which each part of it is recruited. It will, in the event of a major emergency, be virtually under full control of the Federal Government. Its formation will require no revision of the West German Constitution.

2. All three occupying Powers have agreed to end simultaneously the state of war with Germany.

Britain could end the state of war by a simple announcement in the official Gazette. France could act immediately. For the United States, amending legislation in Congress will be necessary to safeguard existing Presidential powers, which depend on the existence of a state of war. This legislation will not be possible during the present session of Congress. Consequently, tripartite termination of the state of war with Germany cannot be expected until the next session of Congress, which begins on January 1, 1951.

3. A West German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be authorised immediately, that It may enter into diplomatic relations with any friendly Power. It will be allowed to conclude international agreements, subject only to an over-riding veto if these agreements are regarded by the occupying Powers as undermining the basic purposes of the occupation.

German diplomatic missions, with full Ambasadorial or Ministerial status, will not for the time being be set uo in Paris, London and Washington. The fact that the three Allied High Commissioners for Germany are technically the highest authority in West Germany would complicate the appointment of Ambasadors to Powers who are so exceptionally represented in Germany itself. Such appointments might also be held to weaken the legal basis of the occupation and create the risk of diplomatic missions by-passing the High Commissioners in relations between the three occupying Governments and Western Germany. The Bonn Government will be

permitted to appoint “diplomatic representatives ” as, opposed to their present Consuls-general in Paris, London and Washington. 4. Steel production in recent ✓ months in Western Germany has almost reached the permitted ceiling of 11,100,000 tons a year. It has been agreed, in the interests of the common defence effort, to allow production to go beyond this ceiling.. Without defining the new ceiling there /is a general understanding between the three Powers that this does not mean that from now on the “ sky is the limit” for German steel output. Officials hope that an agreement in principle to permit the organisation and integration of a German military force in a collective North Atlantic Army may yet be reached by the 12 North Atlantic Treaty Powers before the Foreign Ministers leave New York. Observers believe that if Germany eventually made a military contribution to Western Europe, this might well lead to a further review of the reserved occupation powers.