Evening star., 1947-04-09
Border Change to Aid.
German Agriculture
Opposed by Soviet
BY the Assoeioted Press

MOSCOW, April 9.-Brltalr
and the United States proposed
to the Council of Foreign Min.
listers tonight a revision in the
present German-Polish frontier
to put agricultural lands inside
Germany, but Russia opposed
any changes.
French Foreign Minister Georges
Bidault proposed that the whole
question be studied further. but he
did not commit France as being ir
favor or opposed to present German
boundaries.
Secretary of State Marshall and
British Foreign Secretary Bevin
quoted heretofore secret speeches OF
Prime Minister Stain at Potsdam to
show that the generalissino did not
consider as final the present admin
istrative Polish border-set at the
Oder and Neisse Rivers by the Big
Three Potsdam Conference.
Both maintained that Mr.. Stain
agre ed that the border set at Pots
dam was provisional and would be
settled finally at the peace con-
ference.
Special Commission Asked.
Gen. Marshall proposed that the
Council of Foreign Ministers name
a special boundary commission to
recommend a permanent German
Polish frontier.
Russian Foreign Minister Molotov
maintained that Germany's eastern
frontier was fixed finally at Pots
dam and that the peace conference
merely would "formalize" the
agreements made there.
He asserted that the Eastern bor-
der revision now in effect had given
back to Poland "the cradle of sthe
Polish state"
Mr.. Bevin said that after the last
war many felt that the Polish bor-
der had been pushed too far "east-
ward" and that there was a danger
this time that the frontier might be
pushed too far west"
He cited crowded conditions in
Germany and asked:
rs it likely to produce peace II
Germany is forced to become a
highly industrialized state, which
reverses the pastoral concept held
during the warp"
Mr.. Bevin said the British dele
cation had felt grave doubts" at
Potsdam in agreeing even provision
ally to placing the German area
between the East and West Neisse
Rivers in Polish hands.
Wants Coal to Be Available.
The commission proposed by Gen.
Marshall would be composed of the
United States, Britain, Russia and
plus Poland and some other
Allied states.
He suggested that the commission
also study measures to assure that
The natural and industrial resources
In question shall fairly serve" the
economic needs of Europe.
"It will be accepted, I think" Gen.
Marshall told the conference. that
Southern East Prussia should be-
come Polish territory. German Up
per Silesia and its industrial COM
plex should become Polish, but there
should be provisions to assure that
its coal and other resources should
be available to help sustain the
economy of Europe.
The division of the remaining
territory, largely agricultural land,
requires consideration of the needs
If the Polish and German peoples
and of Europe as whole"
Aims to Avoid Continuing Issues.
Gen. Marshall asked settlement
which would not provide enduring
ana popular issues for the enemies
If democracy and freedom in Ger
many He also urged that the ter
'itorial solution be not one which
would create international fric-
ion."
Poland would not be deprived of
for territories lost to
he Soviet Union, Gen. Marshall
aid. and "the new frontiers of Po-
and must be adequate to give Po-
and resources at least as great as
he had before the war and capable
II maintaining her peoples at a
'ood standard of life"
"a large area of East Poland
was incorporated into Russia in
the settlement which gave Po-
land former German lands.)
Germany's Needs Cited.
Respecting Germany's needs, Gen.
darshan said:
German prewar imports OF food
'tuffs provided about one-fifth of
he total food consumed in Ger
many. Before the war the Ger
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