Evening star., 1945-03-18
BY Joseph Fl. Baird

is the effect of imported German labor
ers on the economies of the countries
where they would work.
In this connection it is recalled that
the use of German labor and materials
to repair the devastated sections of
France was discussed at the Versailles
Conference. No definite decision was
taken there.
However, at the subsequent Wies-
baden Conference Of 1921 1t was decided
that the devastated areas should be
restored at least in part by German
labor and materials. But, Interestingly,
In the end they contributed little to this
program because of the intense resent
ment aroused among French labor
unions and contractors over what they
regarded as foreign invasion of their
markets.
Situation Differs in Russia.
Because Of Russia's Socialist enomomy
the same problem would not arise there.
With its state-directed programs for
construction and the exploitation of
natural resources, its internally con-
trolled currency and its complete alb
sence OF private finance and business,
the Soviet Union is able to create en-
ployment at will. It has no private
contractors or suppliers of building ma
terials.
Both France and Belgium, however,
are faced with an unemployment prob
lem, and the same economic forces that
came into play in 1921 might be potent
again in those countries.
Russia. very probably, would be more
interested in obtaining skilled labor
from an organization like TODT than
in the work Of Nazis as form of politi-
cal punishment. White Russia, the
Ukraine and the Don Basin, which the
German armies pillaged, were the areas
most highly developed industrially.
There, during the first five year plan"
the Russians had built the giant Dnieper
hydroelectric dam, hundreds of textile
and chemical plants and many other
types of modern factories.
Many Of these were constructed with
the technical aide of German engineers
and large part of their machinery was
either of German manufacture or Ger
man design. Therefore 1t stands to rea-
son that they can best be rebuilt by
German technicians The restoration of
industry stands at the top of Russian
postwar planning.
Could Use UnskilIed Help.
However, large amount of unskilled
labor, which might be recruited from
the dregs Of the Nazi party, could well
be used in cleaning up the rubble of
Russias destroyed cities, for reforesta-
tion and scores of other such tasks.
Still another question to be solved is
how German labor would be paid, since
the Yalta Conference adopted the prin-
ciple that the people of Germany were
not to be enslaved. One method, it is
suggested, would be for the Allied gov
ernments receiving German laborers to
fix stipend for their services, pay
them in cash or kind only enough for
their daily needs, credit the workers
remaining wages to the German repara-
tions account and require the German
government to pay the marginal amount
to the worker in marks once he is
repatriated.
One thing the Allies surely will avoid
any system that would involve the
transfer OF currencies across borders.
For that was the main economic weak
ness that caused the collapse of the. rep
arations agreements which followed the
World War.
1t is already evident that any agree
ment to force Germany to supply work.
ers as part of its reparations will meet
spirited opposition from some sections