TRADE PACT IN GERMANY

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1947, Page 7

TRADE PACT IN GERMANY

Move Towards Removal of Inter-Zone Barriers

Received Sunday, 7.40 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. . The Dennan Eeonomic Administration with the approval of the Control Commission has signed a three-zone trading agreement involving the exchange of £5,000,000 vvortli of goods in" 1947. The agrecmeiit is welcomed as a big advance toward removing inter-zone trading barriers. The Russian zone will deliver wheat, rye, oats, potatocs, pit props, wood pulp, liewsprint, syntlietic rubber, seeds, texliles, cement and glass to the British atid Ameriean zones in exehaiigc for iron, steel, tyres, rubber, convcyor belts, hops, electric inoloTs, livestoek, chemicals and mcdicines. The6 British and United States Military Governracnts have eonfirmed the eleetion of Doetor Victor Agartz as chairman of the bizonal committee for econoTnics and liead of its administrative inaehinery, says the British News Service. Agartz succeeds Dr. Mueller wlio was voted out of otfice by six states in British Ameriean zones. The North Geriuan Coal Board announeed that the newly introdueed svstem of awarding the Ruhr miners food and goods ou the points system for good work had an immediate effect. The production for the hrst three days of the week averaged 11,200 tons higher daily. Reuter's and Assoeiated Prcss correspondents in Berlin botli suggest that failure to organise Germanv as an eeonomic unit may lead to increasing her industrial capacity beyond the limits prescribed at Potsdam. Reuters says a high British spokesman dcclined to connnent on a reported statement by Mr. Mokolovsky that production in the Russian zone would be two or three times above the agreed level. The spokesman said, however, that Britain and Ameriea, in the absenee of a fotir-Power agreement, would undoubtedlv decline to be restrieted to the level of industry designed for Germanv as an eeonomic unit. Within a few days, LieutenantGeneral Robertson. deputy iuilitary govprnor of the British zone, and Lieuteuant-General Clav, iuilitary governor, would issue a statement designed to elear up the present " bewilderment and despuir" in Ihe minds of Germans. The Assoeiated Press quotes a high Ameriean ollieial as sa.viug that Britain and Ameriea have planned to transfer the emphasis ou dennan economy from heaw induslrv to light industry and textiies, with a level of production higher thau either Britain or Ameriea would approve if all the zones were merged.