Evening star., 1947-04-29

SECRETARY MARSHALL,
As he reported to the Nation
on the Mosco,D conference.
-AP Photo.
nomic system and its relation to all
of Europe; (c) the character and
extent Of reparations; Id the boun-
daries for the German state. and (e)
the manner in which all Allied states
at war with Germany are repre-
sented in the drafting and confrma-
ton of the treaty.
All the members of the Council
of Foreign Ministers are in ap-
parent agreement as to the estab-
lishment of a German state on a
self supporting, democratic basis,
with limitations imposed to prevent
the establishment of military
power.
ntNL W.
This issue of the degree of CEN
tralization of the future German
state is of greatest Importance. Ex-
cessive concentration of power is
peculiarly dangerous in a country
like Germany which has no strong
traditions regarding the rights OF
the individual and the rights of the
community to control the exercise
of governmental power.
The Soviet Union appears to favor
strong central government. The
United States and United Kingdom
are opposed to such government,
because they think 1t could be too
readily converted to the domination
of a regime similar to the Nazis.
They favor a central government of
carefully limited powers, all other
powers being reserved to the states,
or Laender as they are called in
Germany.
The French are willing to agree
only to very limited responsibilities
for the central government. They
fear a repetition of the seizure Of
power over the whole of Germany
carried out by the Hitler regime in
1888. :
(FolloWing paragraph included in
prepared text but not broadcast:
Under ordinary circumstances
there are always strong and diff
fering points of view regarding the
character of a governmental reor-
ganization. In this case there are
great and justifiable fears regard
ing the resurrection of German
military power, and concern over
expressed or concealed desires for
quite other reasons ~sa a%-
GERMAN ECONOMY.
Regarding the character of the
German economic system and its
relation to all of Europe, the dis
agreements are even more serious
and difficult of adjustment. Ger
man economy at the present time
Is crippled by the fact that there
is no unity of action, and the re-
habilitation of Germany to the
point where she is self-supporting
demands immediate decision.
There is a declared agreement
in the desire for economic unity
in Germany but when it comes to
the actual terms to regulate such
unity there are wide and critical
differences. One of the most Sc
rious difficulties encountered in the
effort to secure economic unity has
been the fact that the Soviet-occu-
pied zone has operated practically
without regard to the other zones
and has made few if any reports OF
what has been occurring in that
zone.
There has been little or no dis
position to proceed on basis of
reciprocity and there has been a re-
fusal to disclose the availability of
foodstuffs, and the degree or char
acter of reparations taken out of
this zone.
This unwillingness of the Soviet
authorities to cooperate in estab-
fishing balanced economy tor Ger
many as agreed upon at Potsdam
has been the most serious check on
the development of a self-support-
ing Germany, and a Germany cap
able of providing coal and other
necessities for the neighboring
states who have always been de-
pendent on Germany for these
items.
Futile Efforts for Accord.
After long and futile efforts to
secure working accord in this
matter, the British and American
zones were combined for the i'm
provement of the economic stu
alton, meaning the free movement
of excess supplies or produce avail
able in one zone to another where
there is a shortage. Our continu-
ing invitation to the French and
Soviets to join in the arrangement
still exists.
This merger is bitterly attacked
by the Soviet authorities as a
breach Of the Potsdam Agreement
and as a first step towards the
dismemberment of Germany, ig-l
noring the plain fact that their