Page View
Military government weekly information bulletin
Number 74 (January 1947)
[Highlights of policy], pp. [4]-18
PDF (8.7 MB)
Page 18
and Industry, likewise provided for in the Potsdam Agreement, have not yet been estab- lished by quadripartite action. Let me emphasize that the American people have no desire to deny the German people an opportunity to work their way out of their present hardships so long as Germany re- spects human freedom and abjures war and militarism. It was for this reason and as a step toward implementing the Potsdam Agreement that we announced on 20 July of this year our readiness to join with any other oc- cupying power or powers in measures for treating our respective zones as a single economic unit. We mentioned on that occasion that the United States Government is unwilling to permit creeping economic paralysis to grow here as a result of Germany being adminis- tered in four airtight compartments, if it is possible to join our zone economically with any or all of the other three zones. BIZONAL ECONOMIC ACCORD As you probably know, the British Gov- ernment accepted our zonal economic merger proposal. On the third of this month, the finalized agreement was announced in Washington providing for the full economic integration of the American and British Zones of Occupation in Germany, effective 1 January 1947. This bizonal agreement envisages an eco- nomic program calculated to make the area self-sustaining in three years. This program is expected to form the basis for the gradual restoration of a healthy non-aggressive Ger- man economy and in turn contribute to the economic stability of Europe. Other significant provisions of the Anglo- American bizonal agreement pertain to the establishment of a joint export-import agency to promote and finance foreign trade, the pooling of resources of the two zones to produce a common standard of living, and the establishment of German Administrative Agencies necessary to the economic lnifica- tion of the two zones. In actual operation, the new bizonal agreement will result in many reciprocal advantages to the two zones through their economic merger begining with the new year 1947. This prospect should lend en- couragement to many Germans who are eco- nomically despondent and hitherto have seen little hope for their country's economic rehabilitation. YOUTH ACTIVITIES ENCOURAGED As this season of the year is of special significance to the children, I will make special mention of another American ob- jective which is of major importance in building up peaceful democracy in Germany. This is the encouragement of German Youth Activities. Under the Nazis the Hitler Jugend was the only youth organization permitted to exist. After this organization was disbanded by the Allies, democratically organized movements began to spring into life spontaneously. However, these organi- zations lacked necessarymaterial,equipment, and democratically trained leaders to aid them. During this period, our military per- sonnel has officially provided supplies and now nearly one thousand military personnel are directly engaged as German Youth Activ- ities officers and non-commissioned officers. This assistance has brought about an ac- celerated upswing of youth activities which has exceeded the expectation of your youth officials. The number of authorized youth groups has grown to more than seven thou- sand with more than seven hundred thousand members. ARMY ASSISTANCE CITED Troop detachments have organized sports events, youth days, clubs, discussion groups, etc. Scouting, YMCA, YWCA, hosteling, and other groups have been helped and encourag- ed. Equipment and materials have been transferred, and transportation and youth centers provided. In every Kreis and Land in the US Zone a German Youth Committee has been organiz- ed. These committees provide an organiza- (Continued on page 32) 18
As a work of the United States government, this material is in the public domain.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright