The Big Three Agree To Plans For Closer Relations With Germany

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 September 1950, Page 5

The Big Three Agree To Plans For Closer Relations With Germany

End Of State Of War And A Guarantee Of Security

NEW YORK, Sept. IS). —The United Stales. Britain, and France have agreed to end their state of war with Germany.

The agreement was announced | today by the Foreign Ministers of ' the three countries, meeting in • New York. The Ministers also decided:— 1. To permit the establishment of mobile police formations, with provisions which would enable the Federal West German Government to make effective use of all or part of this force in order to meet fully “the exigencies of the present situation.” 2. To review the present prohibitions 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. The Foreign Ministers said they had given serious consideration to the problem of Germany’s military security and to sentiments favouring German participation in lhe defence of Western Europe. No decision was 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 re-creation of a small German national army would not serve the best interests of Germany or Europe. They also believe this is the view of the great majority of the German people.”

1 The Ministers made it clear that any attack upon Berlin or upon Western Germany would be regarded as an attack upon lhe occupying nations themselves. The Big Three, in the final communique on their meeting in New York, pledged themselves, in conjunction with lhe North Atlantic Treaty organisation. Io see to it that the necessary measures to safeguard the security of the free world in Europe and Asia are worked out and applied with the greatest possible dispatch. The Ministers said they had that the efforts of the United ; Nations 1o resist threats to peace and to achieve peaceful settlements ] would receive their firmest support. i 1 Without saying just what control I powers they would give up, the • : Allies promised to broaden the West. I German Government’s authority for I action independent of Allies vetoes. • I The Ministers made it plain that by ending the state of war with Germany thov r ' ’ ‘ . n( i to P nd the it ary occupation ot the country. > The com.. .. ‘ This action r will nor affect the right' and status : of the three Powers in Germany, • which rest irpon their bases. It will, > however, create a tinner foundation • for developing a structure of peace- - ' ful, friendly relationships, and will s i emove disabilities to which German 1 j nationals are subject.” -[ The communique said that the de- , j cisions reached “represent a major (• | advance towards the progressive rei | turn of Germany into lhe partner--1 | ship in Western Europe and towards -[consolidation of the Western nations ?j in their efforts Io establish a firm - basis for the future peace of Europe [and the world.' 1