Evening star., 1949-04-09
Reich Assembly Chief
Calls for Quick Move
To Get Constitution
8y the Assoeiotsd Press

BONN. Germany, April Ger
man leaders were called on today
to form a West German federal
government quickly or face ca
tastrophe."
The appeal for quick action. fol-
lowing UP the three-power Wash
ington agreement on Germany.
was made by DR.. Konrad Aden-
auer, president of the Assembly
drafting a constitution here. :.
Failure to reach agreement
would be a fiasco for the demo-
cratic idea in Germany" DR.. Ad-
enauer told a news conference.
IF unity is not achieved 1t will be
o catastrophe for us all"
The West German political par
ties have been squabbling over
small differences for months and
this has held up the formation Of
a government.
Finances Are Big Issue.
The biggest differences have
been between the left-wing Social
Democrats (SPD) and the Con-
servative Christian Democrats
(CDUD.
The point at issue is whether
major financial control should rest
with the federal government, as
favored by the SPD, or with the
individual states Of West Ger
many, as favored by the Western
Allies and the CDU.
DR.. Adenauer is leader Of the
Christian Democrats. He attacked
the Social Democrats for so far
failing to 60 along with the CDU.
He noted that the three Western
Allies-despite their differences
had reached agreement on the
German question.
"On the other hand" he said.
I'VE Germans, who have the
greatest interest. are limping be-
hind"
In any event. the next step is up
to the Germans. 1t seemed likely
today that they finally might take
that step. Members Of the dead
locked Bonn Constitutional AS
sembly now talk optimistically Of
the prospects for getting together
on terms of Q constitution. They
have been split for weeks on the
form the constitution should take.
Prize Dansled Before Eyes.
In effect, the Allies have dan
gled before them the prize Of
semisovereignty and q place in the
family of Western nations If they
will Just write that constitution
and get going as a democratic
state.
The Germans would achieve full
legislative, executive and judicial
powers for themselves. Allied Of
ficials remaining in the country
would be not much more than ad-
visers. The Western occupation
armies would remain indefinitely,
but under civilian top command
Many leaders in the Assembly
said the offer marked "a great
step forward" and the anti Com
munist press in the Western zone
used similar descriptions.
The Soviet-controlled press in
the Russian zone attacked the Of
fer in bitter terms. One Soviet
zone paper headlined its story
Three power dictatorship pro-
claimed in Western Germany"
But none Of them tried to mini
mize the Importance Of the move.
Friendly Reception Given.
Western-licensed newspapers
generally gave the offer friendly
reception. The Socialist Telegraf
said THE Western powers have
done all possible to support a dem
ocratic solution of the German
problem" 1t stressed that the
West Germans, by complying,
would gain position to qualify for
European Recovery Program aid,
and become IAN equal member of
the community Of European peo-
pies"
Some left wing Social Demo-
cratic party members, however,
looked over the offer cautiously.
DR.. Kurt Schumacher. the party's
head, observed that there Is no