Own Government Advocated

Chronicle (Levin), 7 September 1946, Page 5

Own Government Advocated

Press Assn.-

U.S. POLICY ON CONTROL

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Friday, 11.25 p.m. BERLIN, Sept. 6. The United States favoured the -early establishment ,of a provisional German Governmen.t for Germany, said Mr. Byrnes, addressing Ailied and German leaders at Stuttgart. "It is the American Government 's view that the people throughout Germany, imder proper safeguards, shoulci now be given the priiuary responsibility, of running their own affairs, ' ' he saiit. "More than a year has passed sini-t hostilities ceased and Germany 's millions sliould not be forced to live m doubt regarding their fate. It is tlifc American Government 's view that Iht Allies, without delay, should make il clear to the German people the essential terms of peace settlement which they expect the Germans to accept anu observe. It is our view that the German people should now "be permitted and helped to make tlie necessarv qjreparations for establishing a Deinocratic Government which caoi accepi and observe tliose tenns. From now on the world 's thoughtful people wilJ judge Ailied action in -Germany not by Ailied promises but by performances. The American Government supported continuing to support the necessary measures to dena/ify aiul deinaiitarise Germany but it does not follovv tlial large armies of alien soldiers or alieu bureauerats, liowever well motivated and disciplined, are, in the long run, the most reliable guardians of anothei eountry 's democracy. All that tlie Ailied Governineiits can and should do is to iav down rules under which Ger many can guveru ltself. Tlie Allieu occupation forces should be liinited tv the nutnber sufiicient to see these rulet obeyed. "But the question for us wib be that a force is neeued t^, make certain that Germany dot*. not rearm as she did after tlie first world war. Our proposal t'o

tne treaty with the major Powers, to enforce tlie 25 and eveu 40 years ' de militarisation plan finally agreed upon in the peace setllenient, uould have tu make possible a sinaller army of occu pation. We would rely for enl'orce ment more upon a force of trained in spectors and less upon ini'antry but 1.. our projiosals for the treaty were noi agreed to, seeurity forces would prob ably have lo reniain in Germany for a long period. "1 want 110 niisunderstanding. The A liiiv will be a part of Ihe occupation force as long as that force is required "it is ihe American GoA'ernineiit '*• view that tlie provisional German Gov eriiiiieiil should not. be hand picked b\ other Governuients but should be Gernum National Council cotnposed oi (leniocrat ically responsible German Alinisters, presidents or other chiei ofiicials of tlie States or province; which have been established in eacli oi Ihe four occupation /ones. "