War is destruction This war more than any
previous war has caused gigantic destruction. The need
for the recuperative benefits of productivity is more
evident now than ever before throughout the world. Not
to speak of Germany at all or even her satellites, our
Allies in Europe will feel the need of the benefit of such
productivity if it should be destroyed. Moreover, speed of
reconstruction is of great importance, if we hope to avoid         
dangerous convulsions in Europe.                                  
 
 
 We contemplate the transfer from Germany of            
ownership of East Prussia, Upper Silesia, Alsace' and Lorraine
(each of them except the first containing raw materials of
importance) together with the imposition of general economic
controls. We also are considering the wisdom of a possible
partition of Germany into north and south sections, as well
as the creation of an internationalized State in the Ruhr.
With such precautions, or indeed with only some of them, it
certainly should not be necessary for us to obliterate all
industrial productivity in the Ruhr area, in order to
preclude its future misuse. 
 
 
 Nor can I agree that it should be one of our           
purposes to hold the German population "to a subsistence
level" if this means the edge of poverty.  This would mean