Evening star., 1954-12-15
Adenauer Gets YeIIs
As He Opens Debate
On Pacts 10 Rearm
By the Assoeiated Press


BONN, Germany, Dec. 15.-
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
opened debate today in his Par
liament's lower house on ratifica-
ton Of the Paris treaties to
rearm West Germany. Launching
the toughest fight of his polit-
ical life. the 78-year-old leader
told the Bundestag rearmament
would make successful negotia-
tions for German unification
possible.
To Socialist accusations that
his government is tagging In
promoting German reunification.
the Chancellor said the agree
ments with the West offered the
whole of Germany the oppor-
tunlty to win by peaceful means
an honorable place in the COM
munity of free nations.
The Bundestag's vote after the
two-day debate will be only the
f1rst OF three the lower house
must hold on the treaties. But
the initial poll was awaited as q
telling test of strength for MIR.
Adenauer and his policy to arm
100000 West Germans within
the North Atlantic alliance.
Other Readings Next Month.
The, decisive second and third
readings Of the treaties will be
held in late January. Then the
Bundesrat, the upper house, must
also approve the agreements.
Despite outspoken opposition
from the Socialists and from
many supporters of his own four
party government coalition, Mr..
Adenauer has expressed complete
confidence that West German
ratification will be completed in
January and that the IA NATO
nations will give their final as
sent by the end of February.
Before Mr.. Adenauer spoke. the
Bundestag defeated two Social
ist motions to delay ratification.
One demanded another attempt
be made to reunite divided Ger
many before rearming. The
other called for removal from
the debate agenda of the con-
troversial pact with France to
put the rich, disputed Saar VAL
ley under international political
control.
Chancellor Boards Opposition.
Socialist yells and whistling
silenced Mr.. Adenauer for sew
eral minutes when, halfway
through his long speech, the
Chancellor in an aside asserted
the opposition had done nothing
to help his government achieve
social and economic recovery out
of Germany's postwar chaos.
Bundestag President Eugen Ger
stenmeier had difficulty in re-
storing quiet In the usually or
derly house.
The Bundestag recessed upon
completion of Mr.. Adenauer's
declaration. Upon reconvening
of the house in midafternoon.
his whole proposition drew at
tack from Chairman Erich Oh
lenhauer of the opposition So
cialists.
Mr.. Ollenhauer appealed to
the Bundestag to stop consid-
Grafton of the Paris accords un-
i'll new attempt had been made
to achieve settlement of the
German question and European
security through talks between
the Big Three Western powers
and Soviet Russia.
He rejected the agreements, in
cluding the Saar pact, as ire |
concilable with the primary need |
to reunite Germany.
The vast majority of our |
young men do not want mill |
tary service" he said. "They |
do not want this whole idiotic ex- |
cess of soulless militarism |
which destroys respect for the
human being"
Adenauer Sees New Epoch.
Mr.. Adenauer pleaded for |
quick ratification of the four |
Paris accords. which he said |
could lead to a new epoch in |
European history in which Ger |
many and her neighbors would |
be allied in lasting union.
THE agreements place us in a |
community of nations to which |
we are linked through the ideal |
OF freedom" he declared, land |
1t is only in this community, |
taken as a whole. that we |
possess enough weight and
energy to be able successfully to |
negotiate with the Soviets.
Only if we adopt an attitude |
OF solidarity with the Western
community will the world have
confidence in the moderation
and justification of our aims"