Evening star., 1955-02-27
German Arms and Saar Pacts
Win Approval From Bundestag;
Final Vote Is Scheduled Today
Adenuuer Parties
Stand Together
Despite QuorreIs
ey the Associated Press

BONN, Germany, SUNDAY, req.
27.-Rearming of West Germany
for the Atlantic alliance against
Communism was overwhelmingly
approved early today by the lower
house of parliament on the next
to-final ratification step.
Then the companion agree
ment with France to Europeanize
the German-speaking Saar VAL
ley with its coal and steel was
approved by vote of 264 to 204
with nine abStentionS.
The whole program including
rearmament thus passed the
crucial test.
The final reading on the pack
age of five Paris treaties was
postponed until later today when
an unprecedented Sunday ses-
sion will be held to pass upon
the raising of SOC. .OO0-man Ger
man army to help defend the
free world. The upper house.
where the government has a
majority. has still to act.
The victory of Chancellor
Konrad Adenauer on the first
four treaties ending the occu-
patton of West Germany and
taking it into the North Atlantic
Alliance was decisive. Despite
their quarrels the four parties
in the government coalition stood
almost solidly together.
His victory over the bitterly
disputed Saar agreement was by
a greatly reduced margin, but
still larger than he had expected.
Rapid Succession of Votes.
In a rapid succession the
Bundestag cast these ballots:
The first treaty, ending the |
10-year occupation by the United |
States, Britain and France-327 |
to ISL.
The second treaty, authorizing |
the Western powers to continue I
to station troops in West Ger !
many, 1923 to $50.
The third and fourth treaties,
formally admitting West Ger
many into a North Atlantic
Treaty Organization and the
Western European Union, 315 to
153 with 8 abstentionS.
The Saar agreement, 264 to
204 with 8 abstentions. /
NATO Delay Beaten.
The Adenauer forces also beat |
down a Socialist amendment, 308 |
to 1863, with 6 abstentions, which |
would have delayed putting the |
NATO treaty into effect until
after the West German parlia-
ment had decided any renewed
negotiations between Russia and
the Western powers on German
unification had failed.
Also beaten was a Socialist
amendment to the Saar pact de-
clarlng the Saar a part of Ger
many and its citizens German
nationals. The vote on this was
$50 to 1874 with 4 abStentions.
Under the first treaty, the
allies restore West German
sovereignty and lift the ban on
arms.
Under the second treaty, the
troops of the three Western oc-
cupying powers are limited to
the present number-more than
100000. Any increase requires
the consent of the newly sover-
eign Bonn republic.
Coalition Stands Firm.
Although Mr.. Adenauer's coali-
ton of Christian Democrats,
Free Democrats, German and
Refugee Party members voted
almost solidly for arms and
Western allies, the Socialists also
mustered their entire strength of
Isl against the arms pactS.
On the second ballot, however,
some deputies were temporarily
absent.
Two non-S Socialists joined in
the vote against incorporation of
West Germany into NATO and
WEU. They apparently were won
over by Socialist arguments
against joining any power bloc
while Germany is still parti-
toned. The nine abstentions on
this vote also apparently were in
fiuenced in the same way.
None of the government depu-
ties apparently disagreed with
the spirit of the Socialist amend
ment on the Saar. But they
needed Mr.. Adenauer's warning
that unless the Saar settlement
with France was accepted un-
changed his whole pro- Western
policy would be wrecked.