Evening star., 1950-12-04
Record 90.4 PET. Vote
OF West Berlin Defies
Communist Threats
BY The Assoeioted Press

BERLIN, Dec. 4.-West Berlin,
: anti-Red political fortress 100
miles behind the Iron Curtain,
scored against Communism again
yesterday with record 90.4 per
cent vote in municipal elections.
Disregarding Red threats and
O Communist boycott. 1,504.414 of
1864 ,o91 eligible Berlin voters cast
their ballots. complete official re-
turn showed.
The dominant Socialists lost a
third of their previous strength
to the runner-up Christian Demo-
Gratis and Free Democrats. The
Socialists polled 653,974 votes, the
Christian Democrats. 360.829, the
Free Democrats, 337,477
Coalition to Continue.
But leaders Of all three parties,
headed by Socialist Mayor Ernst
Reuter-, pledged they would con-
tinue their three-faction city
coalition as a united front against
Russian aggression.
Mr.. Reuter- said he considered a
.three-party coalition necessary be-
cause "in view of the international
political situation. 1t would be out
of the question to form a govern
ment here dependent on ma
jority of only three or four dep
uties."
Unofficial sources said that of
the 127 seats in the Berlin House
Of Deputies. 81 would go to the
Socialists. "a to the Christian
Democrats and 80 to the Free
Democrats. A formal announce
ment Of the seat distribution may
be delayed until tomorrow, how
ever.
Five Western splinter parties ap-
pearing on the ballot here for the
first time each failed to win 5
per cent Of votes and so got no
seats in Berlin's new House Of
Deputies.
Unity Proposal Made.
AS the record vote was cast, the
Soviet Zones official news agency
Adm reported that East German
Prime Minister Otto Grotewohl
has proposed to West German
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer that
their governments confer on uni
fication of Germany and the
drafting of an alderman con-
stitution.
DR.. Adenauer, in Duisburg,
would not comment on the report
but West German officials in Bonn
pointed out that their government
and the Western occupation pow
ers only a few weeks ago rejected
q Communist bid for formation Of
an all-German government.
The huge turnout of Berlin vot-
ers, surprising the 86.3 per cent
who cast ballots during the Soviet
blockade two years ago, astonished
the Russians and the Western
powers alike. i
Kremlin propaga ganda had
branded the poll IAN American
war election" and called on all
West Side citizens to abstain un-
der the implied menace Of re-
prisals. #
Reds Charged Coercion.
1t also portrayed Berliners as
being coerced by American ma
chine guns and Gestapo tactics
into going to the polls. \
But West Berlin police, who
Jailed 303 Communist agitators
last week. reported it was the
"quietest Sunday in occupation
history"
These were The complete Official
returns: Valid votes. 1853 TAO. In
valid votes, 40,674.
Socialists, 653,974 CAT per cent?
d948-64.5 per cent?.
Christian Democrats, 360,G29
GAS per cent? (194S-1e.4 per
cent?.
Free Democrats, 337,477 (13 per
cent? G948-16.1 per cent?.
Conservatives, 1881 (0.8 per
cent?.
German Party, 53,741 (3.7 per
cent?.
Refugee Bloc, 31,876 (2.2 per
cent?.
Independent Socialists, 9,774
COT per cent?.
Free Social Union, 4,148 (0.3 per
cent?.