Evening star., 1955-02-24
West German House
0lverrides Attempts
To Delay Paris Paets
BY the Assoeiatsd Press

BONN. Germany. Feb. "a
Overriding a Socialist motion
for postponement. the lower
house of the West German par
lament today opened a crucial
three-day debate on the Paris
treaties to arm 500,0 900 Germans
in Western defense.
Most observers agreed with
government predictions that the
pacts would win final approval
despite the opposition of many
West Germans.
Armed anti-riot police guarded
the parliament building against
possible demonstrations as the
Bundestag brushed aside the op-
position Socialist move on a show
of hands.
Identification Blow Feared.
introducing the motion So
cialst Deputy Chairman Carlo
Schmid said ratification of the
treaties would wreck any chance
of reuniting divided Germany.
He said the Socialists were more
convinced than ever that Russian
readiness to settle the German
problem should again be tested
by the Western powers at the
conference table.
Replying for the government,
Christian Democrat Deputy Kurt
Kiesinger declared the only way
to reunification was through
ratification. West Germany
must first achieve security before
it can restore freedom and Sc
curity to the l8 million Germans
in the Soviet zone, he added.
All four parties in Chancellor
Konrad Adenauer's ruling coali-
ton voted solidly against the So
cialist motion.
Role in Soviet Talks Sought.
The government parties and
the Socialists united, however.
in drawing up a motion demand
ing West Germany's direct
participation in all talks be-
tween Soviet Russia and the
Western Big Three on the
reunification of Germany. The
motion is scheduled to be passed
unanimously just after the final
vote Saturday on rearmament.
The motion proposed creation
of a standing commission Of the
United States, Britain, France
and West Germany to examine
Immediately all peaceful means"
of ending the division. 1t called
for reunion through free demo-
cratic elections as the most
urgent task of German policy
and promised that the Germans
will live in peaceful co-exist-
ence with all people and ma
tions."
Mr.. Adenauer and members of
his cabinet were on hand as the
session began. Diplomatic and
press galleries were packed.
Newsmen present included cor
respondents from various Soviet
zone newspapers and radio sta
tions and a representative of
Moscow's Pravda, organ OF the
Soviet Communist Party.
End of Occupation Stressed.
With the defeat of the Social
list motion, Christian Democrat
Hans Furler presented a 75-page
majority report Of the foreign
affairs committee advocating
ratification.
He stressed that West Ger
many's chief gain would be the
ending of its 10-year occupation.
1.-THE nall restrictions on our
autonomous freedom of action
on internal and external affairs
will be lifted" Mr.. Furler said,
adding that West Germany would
enter future international con-
ferences as an equal and indis-
pensable partner.
Bonn would have the right to
take up diplomatic relations and
negotiations with all other ma
tions, he said. Mr.. Adenauer al
ready has forecast direct diplo-
matte relations with the Soviet
Union.
Voice in NATO Decisions.
The report said West Germany
would have a voice in all deci-
sions of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. But it
added that the Bonn government
should be given a seat on the
NATO strategic planning group
because of "the special nature Of