Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 17, DeMotte, Jasper County, 21 March 1947 — U.S. SUGGESTS LIMITATION OF REPARATIONS [ARTICLE]

U.S. SUGGESTS LIMITATION OF REPARATIONS

Marshall Sees Peril in Raising German Output; Admits Powers Could Reconcile Positions Moscow, March 20 -f- The first inking that the Moscow conference might reach a compromise on Germany came tonight! when Secretary- of State George C. Marshall and Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov agreed that the four powers possibly could reconcile Their positions. At the same' time, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin gravely warned the conference that the success of negotiations on Germany will; have a definite effect on big power collaboration in all. Europe.

Molotov, who shook the reparations skeletoh out of the Yalta closet, found Bevin and Marshall producing similar references to previously secret discussions at Potsdam and in the Allied Control Council for Germany. Marshall revealed, that the | Russians, who yesterday came out for a 10,000,000 to 12,000,000-ton steel production in Germany, fought desperately -in the Allied Control Council a year ago to limit Germany steel production to 3,500,000 tons yearly because “a higher steel output constitutes a war potential.” Bevin in turn revealed that it was Prime Minister Stalin himself who insisted at Potsdam on capital goods HjCjpurations from the western zones, and not the current production which the Soviets now i ' ask. Dcspits conciliatory speeches, particularly by Molotov, who agreed that Marshall’s program for Germany constituted a good basis for discussion, little agreement was reached at today's nieeting on basic issues, and new differences came to light in the economic discussions. Bevin rejected setting, a dollar

value on reparations such as the Soviet $10,000,000,000 .demand, rejected the Soviet demand to disi solve the Anglo-American zone fusion, demanded a balanced economy for Germany before repj stations and rejected the Fre’ncii ’ demand for definite coal deliveries jto other European states. 8 ! Molotov rejected economic un- ! ity for Germany without reparai tions, rejected Marshall’s and Bevin’s contention "that .the Potsdam agreement superseded Yalta on reparations, but supported the French coal demand. ] French Foreign Minister Gcoj rges Bidault was scheduled to ! give France’s position on these ' same subjects' when the Council j meets tomorrow. i Molotov told the Council that.

after hearing the views of Great Britain, the United States and Fruhtfe, he still believed it possible oh the critical German economic. program. „ . The Soviet diplomat declared -it did not‘follow from the disputes which have broken out here 'that! the four powers would be unable to find a common point of view on : such issues as hte level of indus-

try, a balanced import-export program. freedom of movement inside Germany arjd; similar key muter*. ■ ■ ■ ! i