POLITICS IN GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24960, 22 August 1946, Page 5

POLITICS IN GERMANY

Social Democrat Conference

LOCAL POLLS IN SOVIET ZONE

(Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 21. Reports from Germany indicate a political reawakening. A British delegation from the National Council of Labour, reviewing its recent tour, says there is at present an unsatisfied hunger for news of existing conditions abroad and of the workings of British democracy, and the British Labour movement in particular. From Berlin it is reported that the first conference of the Social Democratic Party has been held since one section of the party “fused” with the Communists and became the Socialist Unity Party. This, it is remarked, shows that Social Democracy is still a real force in Berlin. It is also reported from Berlin that in the campaign for the local elections, to be held in the Soviet zone early next month, gloves are coming off between the Communists and the Christian Democratic Union. This, it is stated, is a struggle in a very real sense between the Eastern and Western conceptions of democracy in Germany. The National Council of Labour delegation says in its report that one of the strongest impressions was of the vital importance of creating a democratic spirit in German social and public life. It adds that if democracy is to have a possibility of success in Germany, the fullest facilities must be given to trade unions, co-operatives, and those political forces which have Socialist aims and a democratic structure and purpose. The council supports suggestions of the delegation that information centres should be established, that there should be a supply of British periodicals and newspapers, and that adequate wireless time should be provided in the British zone to give “up-to-date news and views of the functioning of the democratic movement in Britain and the world.” Social Democrats and Communists

The Berlin correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian,” commenting on the conference of the Social Democratic Party, says: “It is an event of major importance in the complicated political life of this city, and it will encourage Social Democrats all over Germany by showing that in spite of all the efforts of the Communists—now called ‘United Socialists’—the propaganda flag of Social Democracy is being kept flying in Berlin. “If, as a result of this conference, the party can develop a coherent programme and a clearer sense of direction than it has had so far, a new and healthy influence should soon begin to be felt in Berlin’s political life.”

The correspondent adds:—“About as many people as the conference could -hold came to watch and listen. One was struck by the number of young or youngish people there —a decidedly healthy factor.”

Opposition in Russian Zone Referring to the elections in the Soviet zone, the correspondent says: “The main opposition to the United Socialists comes from the Christian Democrats, who since the Social Democratic Party lost the right to independent existence in the Soviet zone have provided the chief rallying point for those who are anti-Communist.

“The United Socialists are undoubtedly seriously worried about a possible success of the Christian Democrats. They are probably not really afraid of defeat, but they are concerned lest the voting should show the rest of Germany too clearly that there is any considerable body of opposition to what has been going on in the Soviet zone. Their propaganda for the rest of Germany has all along been designed tor show what overwhelming popular support there is for everything that the Russians sponsor, and they do not want the elections to produce any markedly discordant notes in the harmonious chorus of approval. “It is for this reason that so far it has been awkward for them to come out too strongly against the Christian Democrats, for this would have spoiled the picture of everybody singing and working happily together. But with the approach of the elections they are faced with the task of making quite sure that people do not get hold of the idea that it is ‘all right’ to vote for Christian Democratic candidates. It is a difficult dilemma, and it is going to be interesting to see how far they go in open attacks on the Christian Democrats and the things for which they stand. Obviously their main concern at the moment is to try to keep ‘ideologies’ out df the election struggle.”