Evening star., 1947-12-11
| Senate Group Studies
Plan 10 Bar Shipping Of
Reich Plants 10 Reds
BY me Assoeiotsd Press

A proposal to block shipments oi
dismantled German factories tc
Russia by clamping restrictions or
Army funds Is under study today
in the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee.
The idea was advanced by Sen
ator Ball, Republican, OF Minnesota
who said 1t might be possible tc
halt the reparations flood into the
Soviet Union and its satellites by
forbidding the use of funds for dis
rantling any additional plants in
the Anglo-American zone except
those destined for Western Europe
Such a limitation, Senator Eau
said, could be attached to the $780,
600, 900 the Army is asking to meet
occupation costs in Germany, Japan
and Korea up to next June 80.
Suggestion Considered.
"We are considering it," Chairman
Bridges Of the Appropriations Com
mittee told a reporter.
But Senator Knowland Repub.
lican, OF California said that by the
time Congress gets around to pass.
ing on the issue, he is inclined te
believe it will have been settled
already by changed circumstances
Senator Knowland said he thinks
shipments to Russia and its satel-
lites will be shut of by the admin
istratiop, without the necessity Of
congressional action, unless the Big
Four powers agree to economic unity
of Germany.
The committee already has a
promise from the Army Department
that such action will be taken II
Russia blocks such an agreement at
the current Foreign Ministers Con-
ference in London.
Senator Ball suggested the law
making move after Secretary of the
Army Royal questioned whether
Congress can interfere with the mat
ter Of reparations since. he said, the
question is covered by treaties.
Continued Shipments AssaiIed.
Senator Bridges countered that
1T is almost unbelievable" that ship
ments of German war plants to
Russia have not already been halted
Senator Knowland added that
there are no treaties implementing
the agreements made at the Pots
dam Big Three conference in 1945
and in any event the Russians have
already preached those agreements.
William H. Draper, Mr.. Royals
Undersecretary, told the committee
yesterday:
If the London conference does
not achieve economic unity, in my
opinion we should not send any
more machinery east"
In the same connection, Senator
Bridges noted that Secretary OF
State Marshall insisted last night
in London that the Russians halt
removal OF what Gen. Marshall es-
timated at $500, 900 900 worth of
German assets out of their zone an
nually.
Marshall Stand Praised.
II am happy that the Secretary
has taken positive stand, but he
has done 1t too late the chairman
said.
Mr. Royal was scheduled to ap-
pear before the committee again
today for the fourth time this week
Senator Bridges said members want
ed to ask him additional questions
about the entire program of dis
maptiing German plants. ]
q Lawrence Wilkinson, economic
adviser to Gen. Lucius Clay, United
States commander in Germany
testified yesterday that most OF the
reparations destined for Russia from
the American zone have been
shipped. He added that American
forces have made considerably more
progress than the British in the
dismantling work.
U. S. Policy Questioned.
Senator Bridges wanted to know
why the United States pushed the
program in view of "Russia's per-
formance in the past year"
Mr.. Wilkinson said the American
zone had large proportion of war
plants, and that it was desirable
to demilitarize Germany as rapidly
as possible.
Senator Bridges agreed, but
added: I'D blow 'em up rather than
send them to Russia"
Senator Ball said he felt the same
way.
TT just doesn't make sense to
me to come up and ask for hun
dreds of millions of dollars to keep
Russia out of Western Europe and
at the same time ship them war
plants Senator Ball said.