Important New Step Taken By United States

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1947, Page 5

Important New Step Taken By United States

, Press Assn ,

By Telegrayh

.?Copyriaht

BERLIN, July lb. The United States State Department has sent a new directive to Generai Lucins Olay, the American Military G-overnor in Germany, instructing him to oppose vigorously any attempt to impose any externaL forms of government on Germany. The directive deelared that the German people should he assisted in attaining a higher standard of living and economic self-sufficiency. It laid particular stress on Germany achieving economic and political unity. "The United 'States Government believes that the level of industry eventually agfeed upon for Germany as the basis for reparation removals,. wl^ile eliminating the ex'cess industrial capacity which Germany used for making wrar, should not permanently limit .Germany 's industrial chpacity. " The directive made a clear attempt to fit American poliey in Germany into Generai Marshall Js plan for the economic recovery of Europe, and instructed Generai Clay to consult other European countries. The United States would be ready to increase her expen diture to enable the restoration oi nor mai international commercial relations between Germany and the rest of Europe. The directive also instructed Generai Clay to ensure that emphasis was given in the selection of items for export to the goods the European countries needed for their economic recovery. The directive instructed Generai Clay to urge nation-wide elections in Germany under four-Power supervision, and recognition of nation-wide political parties. The directive said the United States desired that there should anse as rapidly as possible in Germany a forin of political organisation and manner of political life resting on a substantial basis of economic wellbeing.