ECONOMIC POLICIES TOWARD GERMANY SUMMARY 1. Our eventual objectives with respect to economic treatment of Germany should be (1) abolition of German self-sufficiency, and (2) elimination of the instruments for German economic aggression. For a prolonged period of control and surveillance, however, economic policies with respect to Germany will have to be largely based upon other objectives, namely, (1) reduction of Germany's economic war potential, and (2) assisting the economic reconstruction and develop- ment of the victorious countries. The following policies recommended for adoption in dis- cussion with British and Russians: a. We should advocate allied acceptance of large responsibilities for guidance and reorientation of German economic life, including prevention of an unmanageably chaotic economic situation in the initial period after defeat. b. Economic disarmament should include prohibition of the manufacture of land and naval armament and all types of aircraft; destruction of special- ized facilities for their manufacture; establish- ment of controls to detect any forms of surrept- itious preparation for war. c. Consideration should be given to selective prohibitions upon the manufacture of key industrial items and of broader restraints on exports within the field of metals, metal products and chemicals. d. During the early post-defeat period, the occupa- tion authorities should take no steps to provide a higher living standard than is required for prevention of disease and disorder. Agreement should be sought on definition of this minimum and the measures to be taken, if necessary, to assure such a minimum. e. We should favor conversion of remainder of German industry to peacetime production, particularly reparation |