Evening star., 1949-05-09
Clay Rushes OK
On Constitution
For West Reich
Military Governors
Called to Approve
AssembIy's Action
BY the Assoeioisd Press

BONN, Germany. May 9.-The
Germans at last have the consti-
tuition for a new West German
republic - democratic. unarmed
and pledged to peace.
Today it is being rushed to
Western zone military governors
for final approval. The IL West
German states legislatures must
ratify 1t yet. too.
Gen. Lucius D. Clay, American
military governor, said he is try
ing to arrange a quick meeting of
the military governors. He said
he had hoped the governors would
meet tomorrow. but it seems
unlikely.
Nov it probably will be May
H." he said. That is the date the
Berlin blockade is scheduled to
be lifted.
Despite opposition from states
Fighters. some centrists and the
Communists, the German Consti-
tutional Convention approved 1t.
SO to IL, last night.
German democracy was reborn
ON paper, at least-four years to
the day after Nazi Germany hope
lessly conceded defeat.
Way Open for Reds to Join.
The constitution leaves the door
open for the Russian zone to join
the new state-if free elections
take place in Soviet-controlled
East Germany.
The four-power council OF
foreign ministers will discuss the
German question generally in
Paris May %. Free elections
might be planned there.
However. at present German
Communists say they are pro-
ceeding with an "all-German
government" in the Russian zone.
They have insisted on a united
Germany and opposed a Western
state.
The constitutional convention
took eight months to draft the
146-article constitution.
No Mention of Reservations.
Not mentioned in the final
document were the reservations
which the United States. British
and French made at Washington
April 8 when they agreed to the
proposed republic.
These are believed to include
control over basic relations be-
tween Germany and the outside
world as we'll as security against
o revival of German militarism.
Each of the three Western
powers would terminate military
government and appoint a high
commissioner. The three high
commissioners would be the top
authority in Germany.
The fundamental law Of West
Germany, as set up by the new
constitution, marks an historic
changeover to democracy. how
ever. It:
/. Calls for a democratic, fed
eral republic to govern the West
ern zones 46,000,000 inhabitants
until a government can be formed
for all Germany.
2. Paves the way for general
parliamentary elections in the
three Western zones. 1t is hoped
the new government can take
office July Is.
8. Makes the plotting of agrees
sive war a punishable offense.
There is no provision for an army.
No one-neither the president nor
Parliament-has power to declare
war.
A. A bill Of rights guarantees
racial, lingual and religious equal
ity. Freedom of press, religion
and assembly is pledged. Censor
ship is forbidden.
5. The death penalty is forbid
den-in the land where the head
mans ak. the hangman's moose
and concentration camp guards
bludgeons took uncounted lives
during the NaZi era.
Little Power for President.
The new federal government
like America's-win have only
such powers as are not reserved
to the states. The states Fighters
of the right-of-center Christian
Socialist Union (CSU) and Ba-
varia Rightist German Party (DP)
thought not enough powers were
reserved.
Delegates from Lower Saxony
and middle-of -the-road Centrist
Party representatives from North
Rhine -Westphalia also opposed
the new state on religious grounds
The West German republic
would have a president with little
power.
Chief administrative authority
would rest with the chancellor.
He would be chosen by q bund
(Parliament) of two houses. These
would be a bundestag dover
house) and O bundsrat (upper
house,.
Once more the black. red and
gold flag of the old Weimar re-
public viii fly over Germany. IT
(See GERMAN, Page A-3o
n LII "a