Western Germany To Get Self Rule

Chronicle (Levin), 3 June 1948, Page 5

Western Germany To Get Self Rule

Received Wednesdav, 7 p.m. LONDON, June 2. Six-Power London t;ilks on Germany entled when delegiites signed recommendations they :ire to submit to their Governments for approval. A brief oflicial statement is expected to be issued on June 2. The main recommendations are: — Firstly: A Germun Constituent Assembly of 60 members to be set up at Erankfurt on September 1 to draw up a constitutiou for a West Gerniau Government. Hecondly: An international eontrolling authority to be set up for the Ruhv. To insure Eranee against a resurgen c.r of an aggressive Germany, it is unuer stood that Britain anil the United States have agreed, when the time comes to end the general occupation of Geimany, to consider military arrangeinents to cover anv particular danger SllOt.

The continued occupation of the Rhine and Ruhr for an undefined period, would obviouslv be a dominant featuro of any sueli scheme, according to the 'Daihq Mail's diplomatic correspondent. This is regarded, he says, as an alterna-, live to a direct American guarantee of military support for Wgstern Europe which. was sought by France. The function -of-^rthe international eontrolling- authority for the Ruhr will be to allocate the products of this vast industrial region, mainlv coal and steel, ainong the European nations, while assuring that Germany shall retain a quantity adequate. for her own requirements. The arrangements made by the international authority will, it is undevstood, be fitted into the European re- , coverv programme under the Marshall plan. The Times' diplomate correspondent savs the question of the socialisation of Ruhr industries, has been lef't over for the Germans themselves to decide. The Powers participating in the London conferenee were Britain, France, United States and the three Benelux countries (Belgium, Holland I and Luxemburg). «