THE DEMILITARIZATION OF GERMANY

Statement Made at the Sitting

of the Council of Foreign Ministers

March il, 194-7

1. The Berlin conference decisions provide for the
complete disarmament and demilitarization of Germany
and the elimination of her war-industrial potential. The
productive capacities not required for the development of
the peac industries which she will be permitted to have
must be either removed in accordance with the repa-
rations plan, or else destroyed.
It is indisputable that the implementation of these
general decisions of the Allied Powers on Germany's de-
militarization constitutes one of the foundations of Al-
lied policy aimed at safeguarding the world from possi-
ble aggression on Germany's part, and a;t converting her
into a peaceable democratic state. This goal conforms to
the interests of all the peace-loving countries of the
world.
2. Nearly two years have passed since Germany's sur-
render. The German army downed arms and ceased to
exist as such. In view of this, the liquidation of Ger-
many's war-industrial potential now becomes of decisive
importance for her demilitarization, in order that
Germany, whilst remaining a democratic and peaceable
state having, along with agriculture, its industry and for-
343