Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-29

NEW YORK.-ACHESON ADDF
American Newspaper Publisher
Samuel II. Kaufman, preside
master. At right Is Richard
after the war to resolve the major
issues arising from the defeat Of
Germany and to achieve . gen
eral settlement. During that Pc
Rod we participated in the four
power machinery for control Of
Germany established by interna-
tional agreement in 1945.
BY the end of 1947 1t appeared
that the Soviet Union was seek
ing to thwart any settlement
which did not concede virtual
Soviet control over German eco
nomic and political life. This
was confirmed in two futile meet
ings of the Council OF Foreign
Ministers In Moscow and London.
It was emphasized in the Allied
control authority in Berlin. where
the Soviet veto power was exer-
cised three times as often as by
the three Western powers COM
bined.
The resultant paralysis Of inter-
Allied policy and control created
an intolerable situation. Germany
became divided into disconnected
administrative areas and was
rapidly being reduced to state
of economic chaos. distress and
despair. Disaster was averted
primarily by American economic
aid. rsr+-@
The German stalemate height
ened the general European crisis.
The European Recovery Program
could not succeed without the raw
materials and finished products
which only . revived German
economy could contribute.
BY 194s it became clear that
the Western powers could no
longer tolerate an impasse which
made it impossible for them to
discharge their responsibilities for
the organization Of German adj
ministration. and for the degree
of German economic recovery
that was essential for the welfare
of Europe as a whole. These
powers determined to concert
their policies for the area Of Ger
many under their control. which
embraced about two-thirds of the
territory and three-fourths Of the
Of occupied Germany.
These common policies were en-
bodied in the London agreements,
announced on June /. 1948. This
joint program. I wish to empha-
size, Is in no sense a reputation
of our international commitments
on Germany. embodied in the
Potsdam protocol and other agree
ments. It represents a sincere
effort to deal with existing re-
alities In the spirit Of the original
Allied covenants pertaining to
Germany.
The London agreements consti-
tute a set of arrangements for the
co.ordinated administration OF
Germany pending a definitive
peace settlement. The execution
Of this program. now in progress,
should restore stability and con-
fidence in Western Germany while
protecting the vital interests of
Germany's neighbors. 1t seeks to
insure cooperation among the
Western nations in the evolution
of a policy which can and should
lead to a peaceful and fruitfn.
association of Germany with
Western Europe. 1t Is q provi-
sional settlement which in no way
excludes the eventual achieve
ment Of arrangements applicable
to all Of Germany.
Basic Pattern Set.
The London agreements estab-
lish q basic pattern for future ac-
ton In the West. The bizonal
area, formed by economic merger
Of the American and British zones
In l947. and the French zone were
to be co-ordinated and eventually
merged. The Western zones were
to participate fully in the Euro
pean Recovery Program. An in
ternational authority for the Ruhr
was to be created to regulate the
ALLEGATION of coal, coke and steel
between home and foreign con-
sumption, to insure equitable in
ternational access to Ruhr re-
sources and safeguard against
remilitarization Of Ruhr industry
The Germans were authorized
to establish . provisional govern
ment, democratic and federal In
character, based upon q constitu-
ton OF German inception. 1t
would be subject. In accordance
with an occupation statute. to
minimum supervision by the occu-
patton authorities in the interest
of the general security and of
broad allied purposes for Ger
many. Co-ordinated three power
control was to be established. with
the virtual abolition Of the 1onal
boundaries.
OF exceptional importance were
the guarantees Of security against
q Germany military revival. .
point sometimes overlooked IN
present-day talk about the hax-
ards inherent In rebuilding Ger
man economic and political life.
The London agreements provided
that there Is to be consultation
among the three occupying pow
ers In the event Of any threat OF
German military recurrence; that
their armed forces are 70 remain