Evening star., 1948-07-24
Reluctant West Germany

There is paradoxical quality to the
negotiations between the occupational
authorities of the Western Powers and
the official spokesmen for the three zones
of Western Germany.
Onhand, 1t may seem strange that those
political leaders are shying at the Allied
plan for setting up native regime which
would give both administrative and eco
nomic unity to Western Germany. The
splitting Of Western Germany into Ameri-
can, British and French zones of occupa-
ton, with diverse regulations and policies,
has been grave handicap to economic
recovery and has imposed manifold
vexations and hardships upon the inhabit-
ants. Why, then, do these West Germans
look askance at program which would
result in trizonal regime with large
measure of initiative and authority?
The answer - twofold. In the first
place, the West Germans are reluctant
to participate in setup which would
accentuate the split between them and
their brethren in the Soviet eastern zone.
They are extremely sensitive to Com
munist charges of treason to the cause
of German unity, and their leaders are
well aware how deep nationalist feeling is
among their own followers
The second reason, which ties in with
the first, is that these leaders do not
want to be put in position of accept
ing responsibility without commensurate
authority. The "Trizonia" proposed by
the Western Powers, while granting
fairly wide measure Of prerogative, does
not possess the basic elements of sover-
eighty. On major matters, the ultimate
decision rests with the associated military
governors of the occupation.
The result Of these interrelated hesitan-
cies is an indisposition OF the German
leaders to assume a position which they
do not feel to be In line with the realities
of the situation. They do not want to
call the administrative statute regulating
Trizonia's status a constitution" They
do not want the popular assembly to be
elected under that statute to be called
parliament" They wish to stress the pro-
visional nature of the entire setup which
may be established. Finally, they have
vividly in mind Russian objections to the
whole scheme and Russian efforts to re-
oP0l1 OAAC CAtIA StdGuS VI SS1MdlAy Ill 1OuI.
power negotiations. The matter is further
complicated by divergence Of views within
the ranks Of the western Powers them
selves. France has never been genuinely
reconciled to the plan for Western Ger
many decided upon at the London Con-
ference of the Western Powers last spring,
fearing that even the measure of autonomy
planned for Trizonia could lead to a de-
gree Of German unification inimical to
future French security.
The upshot is the curious spectacle of
the Western Powers insisting upon the
grant of prerogatives which the Germans
do not wish to accept. Under Allied pres
sure, the German leaders have issued a
declaration that they are ready to assume
full responsibility for ordering German
affairs commensurate with the powers
handed U.s." This rather Delphic utterance
Is obviously q bid for further negotiation
leading to more concessions by the Allies
to the German point of view. Probably
the best card in the Germans hand Is
realization by the Allies that an imposed
regime would be of little value Genuine
German cooperation is vital to the success
Of the trizonal experiment.