Evening star., 1947-12-05

of Germany"
French Conditions Stated.
French Foreign Minister Georges
Bidault took to the conference a
prepared statement that France
would accept Anglo-American plans
to raise the level of industry in
Germany-if France obtained suf1-
cient guarantees against future ag-
gression.
Mr.. Bidault listed two principal
French conditions:
Allied control of the steel-produc-
ing, coal-rich Ruhr, the industrial
center of Germany.
A treaty similar to that proposed
by the United States Government" "
Gen. Marshall in his statement
said Mr.. Molotov has spoken al
most daily on the need for a Ger
man government"
Il hope" the American Secretary
declared, he will now be precise
regarding the creation of conditions
which would make a central Ger
man government "a living reality
and not pretense."
In his opinion, Gen. Marshall
said, the principles necessary to en-
able German government to func-
ton effectively include:
THE basic freedom for the indi-
vidual; the obilition Of zonal boun-
diaries, except as de1imitation of oc-
cupation areas, with no hindrance
to the free flow of persons, ideas
and goods throughout the whole of
Germany, and clear determine
ton of the economic burdens the
German people are to bear"
Question Put to Ministers.
The Secretary put bluntly to the
Soviet, French and British Foreign
Ministers the question: Are the
members of this council prepared
to create the conditions under which
German political and economic
unity can become a reality?"
"It is useless to debate the de-
STABILITY of central German gov
ernment unless the Allies are pre-
pared to create the conditions un--
der which such a government can
function" Gen. Marshall said THE
United States wants there to be an
all German government. just as soon
as there is on all Germany to be
governed and all German work to
be done,
The statement OF Mr.. Bidault, re-
leased by the French delegation,
said France has no objection to
the whole of Germany being treated
as a single economic unit without
prejudicing the status of the Ruhr
and the Rhineland," provided the
Saar Valley Is integrated into the
French economic and monetary sys-
tenn.
StaIemate on Austria.
The Foreign Ministers were able
to schedule discussion on economic
questions because the heated three
hour session on Austria late yester-
day failed to produce basis for
quick completion of the Austrian
independence treaty.
1t did, however, project the Mar
shall aid plan sharply into the
arguments here and once again
dramatized the widespread differ
ences between Russia and the west
ern powers over the future, not only
of Germany, but of Europe.
Mr.. Molotov accused the United
States and Britain of blocking set
tlement of outstanding problems in
Austria and charged that through
economic assistance they were try
ing to enslave that country. The
latter argument was one which the
Russians also have made to various
European nations against the Mar
shall plan.
Marshall Retorts to Molotov.
In an immediate retort flung at
Mr.. Molotov across the Council
table, Gen. Marshall asserted that
I'VE are all aware of the real pur-
pose of attacks of this nature"
Indeed it has been announced"
he said, sit is to disrupt the great
cooperative movement that is being
launched for the economic recovery
Of Europe"
This exchange spotlighted one of
the great difficulties in the way of
any agreement between Russia and
the western powers on the twin
problems of German economic unity
and German political unity now
coming up in Big Four sessions.
Neither side is in a position to
agree to German unity on terms &C
ceptable to the other side without
radically altering its major policies
/ in Europe
The Russians have long since de-
elared uncompromising opposition to
! the Marshall plan The western
powers have gone forward with their
, program in spite of this.