SAAR ISSUE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 125, 11 March 1950, Page 5

SAAR ISSUE

WEST GERMAN DEBATE EUROPEAN UNITY. DESIRED IN. Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright). (Rec. 10.40) BONN, March 10. “In no circumstances may the Saar question disturb relations between France and Germany and the construction of a united Western Europe,” the West German Chancellor, Dr. Adenauer, told the Lower House to-day when it mustered for a special debate on the Saar.

Dr. Adenauer, although attacking France for more than an hour over the recent French-Saar Agreement, repeated in general terms his recent suggestion for a European Union built around Franco-German amity.

The West German Government was entitled to have a say in the future of the Saar, Dr. Adenauer said. The terms of the agreement made the Saar “a complete political and economic dependency of France.’' Dr. Adenauer’s arch-rival, Kurt Schumacher, who is leader of the Socialists, declared: “We demand a plebiscite without fear.”

Dr. Heinrich von Bretano said the Saar was the bridge between France and Germany, “but we in Germany see with anxiety that it is now a drawbridge drawn up by the French,” he said.

Dr. Gerhard Seelos, leader of the Bavarian Party, urged France to take over the leadership of Europe. “This leadership can be performed only with generosity and liberality,” he said.

WOLF-GANG HEDLER ATTACKED EXPELLED FROM ASSEMBLY (Rec. 10.15 a.m.) BONN, Mar. 10. The Right-Wing German deputy, Wolf-Gang Hedier, ran from the West German Parliament building to-day with his face streaming blood after an attack by other deputies in an ante-room.'

Hedier, who was recently acquitted by a German court on charges of having advocated the extermination of Jews and making pro-Hitler utterances, had tried to take his seat in the Lower House. Hedier slipped in while the Chancellor, Dr. Konrad Adenauer, was making a speech on the Saar question. Socialists who had threatened to boycott the Assembly if Hedier w r as allowed to resume his seat after the trial surged toward him shouting “Out! Out!” but Hedier would not budge. The House President, Erich Koehler, waved the deputies back to their seats, and asked Hedier to leave, Still. Hedier would not go. Koehler pointed out that Hedier still had to face denazification trial and added: “Your presence here is a grave insult and disturbs order. I expel you from to-day’s session.” Hedier then stalked out followed by four other deputies of his Right-Wing faction. Later, in the ante-room, about 10 other deputies swarmed around him, struck him with their fists and kicked him.