UPROAR IN BONN PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25917, 24 September 1949, Page 7

UPROAR IN BONN PARLIAMENT

DEBATE ON FORMER GERMAN LANDS DELEGATES CLASH ABOUT POLICY BERLIN. September 22. At a tumultuous session of the West German Republican Parliament at Bonn to-day, frequent references were made to former German territories. While they made no outright demands, several minor party members talked of German ties with Austria and Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland and parts of Poland. They pinned their remarks to a statement by the Chancellor (Dr. Kon:ad Adenauer) on Monday that the Republic would press “in a lawful manner” for the return of territories held by Russia and Poland, east of the Oder-Neisse line. The proceedings came near to blows when two Germans, recently returned from Russian prison camps, forced their way past the guards and rushed on to the floor of the House in tattered uniforms to refute pro-Soviet utterances of the Communist leader, Mr Max Reimann. One of the soldiers. after showing his worn clothing. said: “If I could reach Reimann I would twist his neck.” A bedlam of shouts broke out. A Communist delegate, Mr Heinz Renner, shouted: “This is an organised propaganda carrrp'aign.” Before this interruption. Mr Reimann had advised delegates to accept the Oder-Neisse line, which forms Germany’s eastern border. Other delegates had said that former German territory which is now part of Poland should be returned to Germany. Demonstration .Against Mr Reimann Scores of angry delegates banged their desks and shouted “For shame.” and started a mass walk-out as Mr Reimann spoke. Dr. Adenauer persuaded the delegates to return to their seats only after much shouting. At this stage one of the former Russian prisoners said: “I was taken prisoner by the Russians at Stalingrad. I have no home and nothing to eat—and now to hear this man talk this way about leaving German territories under Russian control.” Shouting broke out again, and after he had restored order, the President of the House (Dr. Erich Koehier) said: ‘‘The majority of this House has shown by its demonstration that it does not regard the Oder-Neisse line as final.” A Right-Wing German Party deputy, Mr Johann Christian Ewers, earlier set the House in an uproar when he referred to the West German flag of black, red. and gold as having “a yellow stripe.” Amid outbursts, the President shouted: “The constitutional colours are black, red. and gold. I am not willing to permit any other description of these colours.” Mr Ewers, in his address, said: “Austria is German land. We reject the apeing of foreign democracies—whether they come from England, America, or France. We want a German democracy. The way to win German youth is not with slogans, but discipline.” Dr. Adenauer, who took the floor after Mr Reimann, said: “I regret that this hall and this speakers’ rostrum and Germany’s interests have been desecrated in this manner.”