Evening star., 1947-12-13
Text of Statement by Mootov at Bio Four Conference

LONDON, Dec. 13-Follotoing
Is the tert OF the statement by
FOREIGN Minister MolotoU TO the
Council of Foreign Ministers
yesterday:
The day before yesterday Mr.,
Marshall made statement on be-
half of the United States Govern
ment designed to stop immediate
reparation deliveries to the Soviet
Union from Germany. Mr.. Bevin
associated himself with that state
ment on behalf of the British gov
ernment. After him NJ Bidault also
associated himself with the state
ment on behalf of France. Thus
three delegations have now united
In a common front against repara-
ton deliveries to the Soviet Union.
However, it is not difficult to see
that these statements are ground
less. Furthermore, these statements
are in complete contradiction with
those made by the Government of
the United States of America
against Great Britain and France
during the war when they resolved
to support the Soviet Union and
other Allies regarding reparations
from Germany.
Recalling again the Yalta and
Potsdam agreements, I am bound
to state that the Soviet Union Is
not asking but demanding that the
question of reparations be at long
last decided. The Soviet Union in
sists that agreements regarding
reparations should not remain on
paper but should be carried out as
has been decided.
The difference of views on this
question between the Soviet Union
and the United States Of America,
for instance, is generally known.
Direct damage alone, inflicted by
the Hitlerites on the Soviet terri
tory they occupied, has been esti-
mated at $128,000, 100000. Nobody
can deny the enormous damage
caused to the Soviet people by Ger
man occupation.
Says u. s. Enriched Itself.
Quite different is the case Of the
United States of America. which,
fortunately, was not subjected to
enemy occupation and, what is more,
enriched itself during the war. The
data which have been published
testify to the fact that the profits
of big property owners In the
U. s. A. reached unprecedented
heights during the war years.
Under these circumstances the
representatives of the American
Government may perhaps make a
statement obiecting to reparations
for the Soviet Union. But in order
that this statement may be recog-
nized as Well-founded and just 1t
must be shown that 1t rests at least
on some sort of a moral basis.
1t is all the more obvious that
this statement is groundless. since
it is in contradiction with the obli-
CATION assumed by the United States
Government, as well as by the gov
ernment of Great Britain at the
The Government of the United
States of America proposes to us
that reparation deliveries from cur
rent industrial production should
cease, whilst nothing is said about
the state of affairs with regard to
reparations on account of equip
ment deliveries. That this is passed
over in silence is not accidental.
Reparations Declared Wrecked.
Suffice it to say that under the
Potsdam Agreement reparation de-
liveries of equipment from the
Western zones of Germany are pro-
vided for in respect to 20 Allied
countries, but during the whole
period ending November /, s1947
these 20 countries, including the
U. 8. S. R., received such equipment
to the amount of $33,000,000 only
1t Is evident from this that in actual
fact the reparations from the West
ern zones have been wrecked. Is this
situation admissible? Is it not q
mockery that in the course of two
and half years all the 20 Allied
countries entitled to reparations
from the Western zones have re-
ceived reparations to the amount
of s33,000,000 only? Is this the
proper way of carrying out obliga-
tions assumed if the wish to carry
them out is there?
AS long as allies were needed in
the war against the common enemy
they mattered; not inconsiderable
promises were made to them and
obligations were entered into. But
that was during the war. Little was
left of these promises when came
the time for peacemaking.
Is that the way to establish a
democratic peace which calls for the
respect of the rights and interests
of nations and for the firm observ-
ance of obligations undertaken? The
establishment of democratic peace
as distinct from an imperialistic
peace is incompatible with neglect
of the rights and interests of other
nations and with the violation OF
obligations undertaken.
1dhCo W Su4Cuk 4AVNuCetOAA.
I have quoted data as to how
reparations in the form Of equip
ment deliveries from the western
zones of Germany are being carried
out. Actually nothing has been
done to fulfill these obligations and
the results achieved have been quite
pitiful. The main attack is now be-
ing launched against reparations on
deliveries from so-called current
production. And here too the
American delegation Is resorting to
arguments which are quite ground
less.
However, let us look at the facts.
There are no current reparation
deliveries from the western zones
while the level of industry In the
joint Anglo-American zone reaches
only to IS per cent of the 1888 level,
From the Soviet zone of Germany
current reparation deliveries are
taking place and the level of in
dustry there has already reached 81
per cent of the 1898 level. Thus the
index of industrial output for the
Soviet zone, although conditions
there for the rehabilitation of in
dustry are more difficult, exceeds
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