Evening star., 1947-03-22
Mo|otov Urges
Reich Return 10
Pre-Nazi Setup
BidouIt Opposes Speed
In Establishing Reich
Provisional Regime
By the Associoted Press

LONDON, Mar. 22.-Ine MOS
COW radio said Soviet Foreign
Minister Molotov proposed today
formation of a provisional Ger
man government with the same
degree of decentralization which
existed before the Hitler regime
His plan, presented before the
Council of Foreign Ministers, called
for a parliament of two houses, a
president elected by the houses, and
separate legislative chambers for
the German provinces, which he
said previously were autonomous. ;"
(The Moscow dispatch on to-
days session of the foreign min
listers said the French Foreign
Minister Georges Bidault. pro-
posing a decentralized, loosely
federated government for Ger
many, opposed rapid establish
ment of even provisional
regime)
The radio quoted Mr.. Molotov as
saying the future German state
should have secret ballot elections
on the basis of a universal, equal
and direct electoral law" and that
freedom of speech, the press, re-
ligion and public meetings should
be guaranteed.
No Specific Time Set.
The text of the plan as broadcast
by Moscow did not set any specific
time for undertaking the establish
ment of German government.
The broadcast, recorded by the
Soviet monitor here, quoted Mr.
Moiotov as saying:
The Hitlerite Capitalization of
the State administration, which
destroys the Landtags provincial
diets) and the autonomous admin
stration of the Laender (states)
must be liquidated, so the decen-
traliZation of the administration
will be restored which existed be-
fore the establishment of the Hitler
regime, with the restoration of the
Lantags and two alderman cham
berS"
French officials previously had
urged decentralization and the
United States and Britain suggested
liberalization.
Democratic Election Urged.
There had been widespread belief
in the western capitals that Russia
favored a strongly centralized Ger
man government and this was fore
seen as a major issue of the Moscow
conference.
Mr.. Molotov was quoted as saying
that "the political system of Ger
many must have a democratic char
acter and the organs of power must
be formed on the basis of a demo-
cratic election"
such a provisional German gov
ernment must be set up as could,
while insuring the political and eco
nomic unity of Germany, simul-
taneously assume responsibility for
the fulfllment of Germany's obli-
cations to the Allied states" the
.adio quoted him.
Mr.. Molotov proposed that the
German government include cen
dl ICl dUIft SlCpdl u
,:ents on finance, industry, trans
,ort, communications and foreign
rade," the broadcast reported.
He suggested that the Allied Con-
rol Council in Berlin work out a
provisional democratic constitution
ior Germany with the help of "the
democratic parties, the free trade
unions and other anti-Nazi organi-
zations."
Provisional Regime Urged.
His plan, as broadcast, proposed
that elections be held "in accord
ance with the provisional German
constitution, after which a provi-
sional German government should
be formed"
The prime task of the provisional
government, he said should be erad-
ication of "the remnants of German
militarism and Fascism" in accord
ance with the Potsdam agreement.
Under his plan, President of the
German republic would be elected
~ Parliament consisting of two
>hambers.
"On the whole territory Of Ger
many. an alderman constitution
(See MOSCOW PAGE A-4D