Evening star., 1945-10-31

President Truman said today
he is hopeful of transferring Ger
man government control from
military to civilian authorities
not later than next June /.
The shift, however, will not affect
military occupation of the country
the President said in making the
disclosure at his news conference.
Mr.. Truman expressed his view on
the matter in making public a letter
from Gen. Eisenhower, commander
OF American occupation forces, who
suggested the June date for the
transfer. The shift will have to be
worked out in collaboration with the
other occupying powers-Great Bri-
tain, Russia and France, the Pres
ident said, adding that the other
governments had not yet been ap-
preached on the matter.
Gen. Eisenhower recommended
and the President agreed, that mill
tary occupation, as distinguished
from military government. should be
continued as long as it is necessary.
Conversation Recalled.
Gen. Eisenhower's letter recalled
that he and the President had talked
over this matter when Mr.. Truman
was in Europe in midsummer.
"As you pointed out when here,
Gen. Eisenhower wrote, separation
Of occupational and government re-
sponSibility is sound just as soon
as there is no longer any military
or security reasons for holding them
together, If for no other reason
than because Of its conformity to
the American principle of keeping
the Army as such out of the civil
government field"
Whenever the transfer Is effected
occupation forces will remain on
duty as a precautionary measure,
the President explained.
In his letter, Gen. Eisenhower re-
called that he and the President
agreed that the transfer should be
made "at the earliest possible mo-
ment." He added: Every organ
national step we have taken has
been accomplished in such a way as
to facilitate eventual transfer. New
ertheless. am quite sure that there
is very widespread lack of real
ization as to the governing intent
along this line. basing this state
ment upon the frequency with which
visitors express astonishment that
this purpose exists as q guiding
policy"
Exact Date Not Recommended.
Gen. Eisenhower said he was not
in . position to recommend an exact
date for the transfer since he as
sulned that the four interested gov
ernments would have to agree on q
program under which the change
would be made simultaneously in
the four zones Of occupation.
From "our local standpoint" he
wrote, however, June / next should
be the latest date for the shift.
AS quickly as the matter could be
agreed in principle, but not before,
then actual completion of the
American civil organization should
be undertaken by whatever civilian
you might, at that time, designate
as its eventual head.
The matter Of civil government
Of Germany is entirely separate
from the occupational duty Of the
Army, which responsibility will per-
sist as long as our own Government
deems necessary. The true function
of the Army in this region is to pro-
vide for the United States that re-
serve of force and power that can
insure within our zone the prompt
enforcement of all laws and regula-
tions prescribed by the group
council, or in the absence OF such
law and regulation. the policies laid
down by our own Government for
the United States zone"
The President said this same
policy is to be carried out in Japan.