Evening star., 1947-01-29
Central Reich Regime
To Replace Zone Plan
Urged by AFL Group ;
BY jones Y. Newton
Star Stoff Correspondent

MIAMI, Jan. 29.-In q report
sharply critical of the control
system of Germany, an Amer
lean Federation of Labor COM
mission today advocated aboli-
ton of the zone system and its
replacement by central Ger
man government.
The commission, headed by Will
liam C. Doherty OF Washington, just
completed q two months study Of
conditions in the American and
British occupation zones at the in
vitation of 1t. Gen. Lucius D. Clay,
deputy military governor of Ger
many. It's report will be submitted
to the AFL Executive Council which
began its winter meeting here today
Labor -curbing legislation under
consideration in Congress topped the
agenda for the meeting OF Fedora
ton heads. Nearly all of the IL
council members already were on
hand for the sessions. John L. Lewis
the AFL's 18th vice president, ar
rived by automobile from Washing
ton last night.
Administration Called Failure"
Mr.. Doherty's group struck at ef-
forts to de-industrialize Germany
completely, declaring that "the nasie
level of industry must be raised II
IS million Germans are to continue
to live"
1t termed the four-zone admins
tration of German affairs "col-
lossal failure" adding the splitting
of Germany into four zones makes it
impossible to restore any reasonable
degree of economic stability to the
nation" The American taxpayer will
have to continue feeding the Ger
mans, the commission stated, unless
industry is revived to meet the ma
tons needs.
STARVATION and misery" within
Germany are interfering with the
limited industrial production al
lowed and also are hindering the
program for teaching democracy,
Mr.. Doherty, president Of the Ma
tional Association Of Letter Car
riers, declared. The report stated
that such conditions coupled with
great confusion are responsible for
a general trend toward nationali-
cation"
Should Receive Attention.
"For that reason alone they
should receive the attention Of all
Americans who are aware that
empty stomachs are susceptible to
every conceivable form Of totali-
tarianism," the committee declared
I'm Germany the appalling lack
of both food and housing has had
a peculiar effect on industrial con-
ditions," the report continued.
I'm many instances, it has been
found that shortages of labor and
unemployment exist side by side.
Sickness, absenteeism and low mo-
rale have had whiting effects on
productivity. With Germany exist
ing under four powers, all following
different programs, the people have
been confronted with hodge-podge
of political ideas, laws, industrial
plans and education systems.
They are bewildered. Out Of the
confusion, has come no incentive for
the German people to rededicate
themselves to democratic processes
and peacetime pursuits.
The committee reported the Ger
mans have been torn in spirit"
and that no goal has been estab-
lished toward which they can work.
They have been plunged into
economic and social darkness" de-
cIared the commission, land, unless
something is done to provide them
light, there is real danger of an
ugly political monster emerging
from that darkness
The Labor Committee criticized
what 1t described as a tendency
in the American zone for occupa-
ton officials to support unoficially
the conservative elements"
Fruits of such a program" the
commission said, may well be dis
illusionment and cynicism toward
democracy at the same time pro-
viding abundant nourishment for
Europe's companion plant-com-
n1unisrn.
THE commission in no way is
seeking clemency for the war crimes
OF Germany and the German peo-
pie" the report asserted, adding:
'But the undeniable fact is that
neither the German people nor
Germany can or should be obliter-
ated. Neither can Allied occupa-
ton forces continue to rule the
nation forever.
"All the world must look toward
the day that Germany again will