Evening star., 1946-09-06
BY The Asseeioied Prsss

SIUITGAhI. Germany, Sept.
6.--The tert OF an address By
Secretary of State Byrnes before
special meeting of Allied and
German officials today:
I have come to Germany to learn
at first hand the problems involved
in the reconstruction of Germany
and to discuss with our representa-
tives the views of the United States
Government as to some of the prob
lens confronting us.
We in the United States have Civ
en- considerable time and attention
to these problems because upon their
proper solution will depend not only
on the future well-being of Ger
many, but the future well being of
Europe.
We have learned, whether we
like 1t or not, that we live in one
world, from which we cannot iso-
late ourselves. We have learned
that peace and well-being are in
divisible and that our peace and
well-being cannot be purchased ut
the price of peace or the well-being
Of any other country.
Continuing Interest in Europe.
1 hope that the German people
will never again make the mistake
OF believing that, because the Ameri-
can people are peace-loving, they
will sit back hoping for peace If any
nation uses force or the threat of
force to acquire dominion over other
people and other governments.
In 1917 the United States was
forced into the first World War.
After that war we refused to join
the League of Nations. We thought
We could stay out of Europe's wars
and we lost interest in the affairs of
Europe. That did not keep us from
being forced into a second World
War.
We will not again make that mis-
take. We intend to continue our in
terest in the affairs of Europe and
of the world. We have helped to
organize the United Nations. We
believe 1t will stop aggressor ma
tions from starting wars. Because
we believe it, we intend to support
the United Nations Organization
with all the power and resources
we possess.
The American people want peace.
They have long since ceased talk
OF a hard or a soft peace for Ger
many. This never has been the real
issue. What we want is q lasting
peace. We will oppose soft measures
which invite breaking of the peace.
Must Not Become Pawn.
In agreeing at Potsdam that Ger
many should be disarmed and de-
militarized, and in proposing that
the four major powers should by
treaty jointly undertake to see that
Germany is kept disarmed and de-
mllitarized for generation, the
United States is not unmindful of
the responsibility resting upon 1t
and its major Allies to maintain snd
enforce peace under the law.
Freedom from militariSm will give
the German people the opportunity,
II they will but seize it, to apply
their great energies and abilities to
the works of peace. 1t will give them
the opportunity to show themselves
worthy of the respect and friendship
of peace-loving nations and, in time,
to take an honorable place among
members of the United Nations.
1t is not in the interest of the
German people or in the interest of
world peace that Germany should
become a pawn or a partner in a
military struggle for power between
the east and the west.
German militarism and Nazism
have devastated twice in our gen.
Grafton the lands of German neigh
bors. 1t Is fair and just that Ger
many should do her part to repair
that devastation. Most Of the vic
Tins of Nazi aggression were before
the war less well of than the Ger
mans. They should not be expected
by Germany to bear, unaided, the
major costs of NaziT aggression.
Plants Apportioned.
The United States, therefore, Is
prepared to carry out fully the prin-
ciples outlined in the Potsdam
agreement on demilitarization and
reparations. However, there should
be changes in the levels of industry
agreed to by the Allied Control
Commission If Germany is not to
be administered as an economic unit
as the Potsdam agreement contem-
plates and requires.
The basis of the Potsdam agree
ment was that, as part of a COM
bined program Of demilitarization
and reparations, Germany's war po-
tential should be reduced by elimi-
nation and removal of her war in
dustries and the reduction and re-
moval OF heavy industrial plants 1t
was contemplated this should be
done to the point that Germany
would be left with levels of industry
capable Of maintaining in Germany
average European living standards
without assistance from other coun-
tries.
The plants so to be removed were
to be delivered as reparations to
the Allies. The plants to be re-
moved from the Soviet zone would
6o W oAAO ocNAOt oAlIOli dilO 1OldIlu, 4,
and the plants to be removed from
the western zones would 60 in part
to the Soviet Union, but in the main
to the western Allies. Provision was
also made for the distribution Of
Germany's foreign assets among the
Allies.
After considerable discussion, the
Allies agreed upon levels to which
the principal German industries
should be reduced to carry out the
Potsdam agreement. These levels
were agreed to upon the assumption
that the indigenous resources Of
Germany were to be available for
distribution on an equitable basis
Tor all Germans in Germany and
that products not necessary for use
In Germany would be available for
export In order to pay for necessary
imports.
Progress Not Denied.
In fixing the levels Of industry.
no allowance was made for repara-
tions from current production. Rep
arations from current production
would be wholly incompatible with