STOPPING GERMAN REARMAMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1948, Page 5

STOPPING GERMAN REARMAMENT

prm Assoaation ;

Military Board ls To Be Set Up Mr. Bevin Survqp Foreign Aftairs

(Per

Keceived Eriday, 11.40 a.m. LONDON, December 9. The Foreign Minister, • Mf, ErfiOst Bevin, opening tho i for.eign affairs debate in the Etouse of Commons, stated thai arfiangements had been completed for the setting up oi a • military board to prevent Grefrriah fearmament. Well-informed soureeS state that the board will be a three Power body, starting work before the efid pf the eOntrol period in Western Germany and possibly continuing after the peace treaty.

The six-Fower Loridoii cortfefence on Germany Iti-st JUfie flgfeed in pfinciple to the cfeation oi the board, which will consist of niilitary, technical and industrifll experts appointed by Britain, Franee Vld.'the United States. . , _ ' The board's functions will i'ftQltfde the. .prevention of, fifstly, tfiegfeviyal of military organisatiofisj S,econdly, the infringement of ihr dustrial restrictions;. thirdly;.. :the ihanufacture or import of ;. arms> war .material or other prohibit§d equipment; fourthly, scientific re-: search for war purposes; arid, fifthly, the creation of a Germaii war potential in any form. Mr. Bevin said that no one eould forecast now where the Comm.ufiist/armies in China would be held, or how far their influence would extend. Watching China Closely Mr. Bevin said that Britain coiild not be • indiff erent' to the fates elther of British nationais or trading interests in China, and was watching the position very catefully. * ^-.The . Government had explained to 'the Chinese Gover'nment that Britain's financiai „and ecohomic fmsition prevented it doing ahytMng' very materiai for China. Giving the House a progress report on Eurppean ' problems, Mr. Bevin said that Since. Juhe;..and more partieulariy since October, when the problem of Berlin waS heferred to the Security Couricil, the Soviet authorities had taken sltccessive steps to destroy the uftified administration of Berlin, Britain was still prepared to agree io' a plan for a single currendy r if the' blockade was withdrawn and if a satisfactory arrangement was . m,ade to discuss later the problem of Germany as a whole. /"Whatever the cost to the Wes- „ ,,.tern Pnwers, we ttiust maintain our position and ensure that the Soviet methods in: Berlin do not succeed, ■; Berlin is far more signific.ailfc to the world than most people realise-/' ' Mr. Bevin said that he had "no ■ri new policy to announce for Etifopean affairs. "There has been

great progress in drawiiig up the Oecupatiori statute fOr Germany, Which will defffie the pOWers reserved to the occupation authori^ • tiefs ,when the West German Government is set up." The statute would make the situation much Ol'e'arer for the'Germans and aliow thepi to develop. . •Mr. Bevin declared that the Gov^ ernriieht did not think the Frendh s^ggesiion • for' detaching the Ruhr from Germany was a iasting solu= tio.9-. ;" *.'T think the Germans themselves Will f ollow • the • wise policy of the British Gb'vernment supporters and nationalise the Ruhr industries when .they get the opportunity," Mr. Bevin added that the French have the right to be assured that the . Vast resources of the Ruhr wouid not again be used for the purpose of aggression. Collective Security Referring ta the politica! aspects Of the Western UnTon, Mr. Bevin Said there. had been "solid progress.'' He added: "If we reach the conclusion of our discussions Oii- the North Atlantic Pact, such a 'pact will mean that an important area' of the world will have the O'ppoftunity of entering into a systeiii of collective security, but, whai is more important, it will give c'ohfidence partieulariy to the Westerh Powers. I know nothing which gives. us a chance to end the agelong- . struggle between Germany and Prahce so much as this Atlahtic Pact." Mf. Bevin declared : "The United Nations is giving us great concern as to whether it is going to face Up to grave problems at all." Stressfng the need for collabora[tiori in the Commonwealth, Mr. 1 B.evin said : "It is a combination of the WeStern Union with these gfeat eountries of the Commonwealth which is bound to be ■ the sfcabilising influence of the world." Mr.- AnthOhy Eden, following Mr. B6Vin, tifged that the Western Union GOuntries should accept joint responsibility for the trusteeship of the fOi-mef Italian colonies if the United Nations failed to provide a solution.