Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-08
East German Council
Bids Again for Unity
Talk With Wesferners
by the Asseeietsd Press

BONN. Germany. May THE
Communicated East Germ n
Peoples Council was reported bid
ding again tonight-on the eve Of
the adoption Of q West German
constitution-for q unity meeting
with Western German leaders.
The Soviet-licensed news service
Adm said the Eastern Germans
sent delegates TO the Bonn consti-
tutional convention q telegram
asking that the two groups meet
30 discuss:
/. Measures TO guarantee that
0ermany's unity will be restored.
2. A peace treaty and the with
drawal of occupation forces.
Twice before the Soviet zone
council has appealed to the West
Germans to work for union Of
East and West Germany. The
West Germans rejected the pre-
vious appeals on the ground that
any unified government OF East
and West Germany at this time
would be under Soviet control. A
similar rejection was generally
expected here for the latest invi-
tation. The Bonn delegates will
lay the foundation for a new ma
ton tomorrow.
Bitterly opposed by the Com
pnunists. the nation will tncorpor.
ate the states Of the British,
French and American zones along
q federalistic line.
It will include the vast indus
trial resources Of the Ruhr Valley
and q population Of more than
10000 900 - largest In Western
Europe.
Members of the new government
are slated to take Office about
mid-July.
Final adoption Of the constitu-
ton at a plenary session OF the
constitutional convention tomor-
row will touch of Germany's first
general election campaign-except
for the Soviet zone-since 1888.
Even the 1888 election offered
little more than an opportunity toI
cast "ja" ballot for the Nazis.
The last really contested general
election was In 1882.
Gained Election Experience.
Since the war, Germans have
had O chance to regain election
experience in state and local cleo
tons.
The constitutional convention
net the stage for final adoption OF
the constitution by rushing 1t
through a second reading In a
seven-hour session last night.
This energetic action. after
eight months Of sometimes desul-
tory debates. followed quickly on
the announcement that the Soviet
zone blockade would be lifted
Thursday and that the Russian.
British, French and American
foreign ministers would meet
May 23. 81
Some of the delegates were rat
tied by the pace. They said they
hardly knew which Of the lat ar
ticles they were voting on. One
said, after participating in a vote
that abolished capital punish
ment, he thought he had been
voting on a tax measure.
Minor Changes Expected.
Convention delegates said they
expected only minor changes. II
any, will be made In the consti-
tuition In the third and final read
ing starting at 3 pm. 20 am. EDIT
tomorrow.
The third reading. however, will
designate the German flag. 1t Is
expected to consist Of black, red
and gold horizontal stripes-the
flag of the old Weimar Republic.
This symbol of the German
democratic era that preceded Hit
lerism also has been chosen as the
ofiicial flag by the Soviet zone.
The convention may put of
naming the capital. Chief CON
testants for the honor are Frank
furt and Bonn, Rhine River uni
versity city and birthplace Of
Reethoyen