Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-09
Truman AsksEnd
OF State Of War
With Germany
Britoin, Australia
And New Zealand
Take Similar Step
By Joseph A. Fox

SCaCe OF war Win Germany eX-
planning at the same time that
this step would not affect the
occupation.
Almost simultaneously Associ-
ated Press dispatches from Lon
don and Sydney disclosed that
Great Britain, Australia and New
Zealand had declared an end to
the state of war.
In Ottawa, officials said Canada
will issue a similar declaration
tomorrow or shortly after.
France is expected to take
parallel action shortly.
In identical letters to Vice
President Barley and Speaker
Rayburn, the President declared
that the action he proposes will
give the German people a new
demonstration of our desire to
help bring them back to member
ship among the nations of the free
world. 1t will represent another
and logical step on the road which
leads toward the eventual restor-
alton of German independence .
The President handed the letters
personally to the Vice President
and Speaker when they went to
the White House this morning for
the weekly conference of Mr..
Truman and his congressional
leaders.
Treaty Still Desirable.
Asked as they left the confer
ence if this Government has ever
before used a legislative process
rather than a treaty of peace to
end a war, the Speaker and Senate
Majority Leader Mcfarland said
they were not sure.
They agreed, however, that the
plan would not make a peace
treaty less desirable if one could
be worked out.
Later, the State Department
said that a peace treaty with Ger
many was the ultimate aim, but
mot under the present circum-
stances.
Legal authorities are studying
what effect there would be on war
powers still remaining with the
President if the state of war with
Germany is terminated.
Retains Certain War Powers.
Until the japanese peace treaty
is concluded, however. the Presi-
dent will retain certain war pow
ers, it was said at the White
House.
Along with the letter, the Presi-
dent offered the draft of a reso-
luton to carry his plan into eff
feet. Under it's term, Congress
would declare the state of wal
terminated on such date as the
President fixed by proclamation
Mr.. Truman explained in his
1,50o-word communication that
actually his proposal would END
a technical state of war"
Since the Germans surrendered
on May 8, 1945, President Tru-
man has by successive proclama-
tons relaxed certain wartime
restrictions.
In his message, in which he
explains how Russia had blocked
Ia plan for the administration
of unified Germany, he said that
now approximately two-thirds of
the area of prewar Germany and
three-fourth of the German people
are free of Soviet control within
the present borders of the Ger
man Federal republic.
Mr.. Truman said that declaring
the end of the state of war would
have no effect on claims for repair
ations against the old government.
The Congressional leaders de-
clined comment.
Cites Progress i'm Europe.
The tert of President Tru-
mans letter to the Vice Presi-
dent and Speaker of the House
| tollo,DS:
The progress which has been
made in the recovery of Europe
and in the strengthening of demo
cratic institutions there makes il
appropriate at this time to end
the status of Germany as an
enemy country. Bit by bit in re-
cent years we have carried out
a policy, agreed upon with our
allies, of building up a freely
elected German government, ano
returning to the German people
! (See GERMANY Page A.QA