Evening star., 1949-04-10
West Germans Get Broad Liberty
And Almost Complete Self Rule
Under Allies Occupation Statute
Semi-Peuce Pact
Effective When
Republic Rises
BY The Assoeioted Press

Western Germanys millions to-
night.
They came from the United
States, Britain and France In the
form of an Occupation statute
a semipeace treaty.
The full text will not be made
available for publication until
after German leaders have studied
it, presumably about the middle
of next week.
The statute will become effec-
tive as soon as the Germans form
a federal republic. They may do
this by July /.
Red Revolution Barred.
The statute, approved by the
three foreign ministers In Wash
ington this week:
1. Gives 100000 Germans in
the three Western zones the right
to run their internal affairs al
most without interference from
the occupiers.
2. Makes it clear to Soviet Rus
sia that the Western Allies are
leaving no weak spots in their
unity-and no chink for Com
munist revolution from within.
The statute is a document of
about 700 words-one of the
shortest peace treaties on record.
1t gives Germans in the West
opportunities for self-government
far beyond anything Communists
even have limited for the 17,000.-
900 Germans under their thumb
The future West German gov
ernment will have full legislative,
executive and judicial powers over
internal matters.
Military To Be Replaced.
American, British and French
high commissioners will replace
the present military governors at
the same time the new government
is set up. Occupation troops will
stay on only for security pur-
poses for the civilian administra-
ton.
Allied officials will have the
right to veto new German laws
only If they violate the Germans
own constitution or threaten toI
upset peace.
The Western Allies will con-
tinue, however, to hold the rein
on foreign affairs and foreign
trade, disarmament and scientific
research such as on atomic energy.
the Ruhr industrial region which
was Hitlers arsenal, civil avia-
tion. reparations and restitution
of looted property. Decentralization,
displaced persons, protection OF
Allied personnel and custody of
war criminals.
Democratic Safeguards.
There also are safeguards to-
see that the Germans keep on the
democratic path. These are COW
cred under the provision that the
occupiers have the right to "en-
force universal respect" for the
constitution, or prevent change
in the constitution. This right
could be invoked if the constitu-
ton was threatened either by
Communists or militant rightists.
1t is reinforced by an Allied
pledge to protect civil rights.
The statute is expected to speed
up the stalemated negotiations on
formation of a West German gov
ernment by an assembly Of 65
delegates here. They have been
tied up by differences between
Social Democrats, who want major
financial powers deposited with
the central government. and the
conservative Christian Democrats,
who favor states rights.
Hope that these might be settled
soon grew today out of personal
visit of British Deputy Prime Min
lister Herbert Morrison on DR.. Kurt
Schumacher, Social Democrat
leader.
Clay Expected to Retire.
Western power differences were
largely ironed out when it was
decided to change the admins
tration of all three zones from
military to civilian.
1t is expected that the change
will bring the retirement from
Germany of Gen. Lucius D. Clay,
who has been wanting to go back
to the United States, British Gen.
Sir Brian Robertson and French
Gen. Pierre Koenig.
Mentioned as possible civilian
commissioner are: George F.
Kennan, State Department ex-
pert; John Hynd, former British
minister for occupied territories,
and Andre Francois-poncet, spe-
cial French emissary in Germany.
Other Western power disagree
ments which have been ironed out
were over financial controls and
questions on which a single occu-
patton power could exercise q
veto.
It was learned here that the
United States, which has exer-
cised a dominant voice in finan-
cial matters because it is bearing
most of the occupation cost, will
turn financial questions over to
the Organization for European
Economic Cooperation, Mar
shall Plan as an equal partner in
the European Recovery Program.
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