German Industry
The plan for the dismantling of industrial plant in the Anglo- American zone in Germany is in some danger of being submerged in a flood of talk. Consequently it will be particularly necessary in the next few weeks to hold fast to the facts of the case. The failure of the Russians to implement that part of the Potsdam agree- ment which requires that Germany shall be treated as an economic unit has meant that the British and American authorities have had to modify their original reparations plans with a view to making Western Germany self-supporting. In the course of this modifica- tion they have reduced the number of plants to be ' taken as reparations from 1,636 to 682, plus a few more which are to come from industries which have been totally prohibited. All announce- ments have claimed that the plant left in Western Germany is sufficient to ensure a balanced industrial economy, capable of self support and also of making a contribution to the economic recovery of Europe as a whole. It is also said by General Sir Brian Robertson that the Germans will not be in the next four years able to make full use even of the plant now left to them. These are the facts as given from official sources. Now the record of British and American control in Western Germany is not so distinguished that all state- ments made by the authorities are beyond question. Consequently the situation must still be kept under very narrow scrutiny. But if that is to be done passion must as far as possible be kept out of it. In particular the outcry which will certainly come from Germany, must not be taken at its face value. Likewise the debate in the British Parliament must stick to facts and keep clear of political rancour. If German industry is ever to settle down there must be a quick end to uncertainty, delay and infirmity of purpose.
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