MILITARY ROLE OF GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26266, 10 November 1950, Page 7

MILITARY ROLE OF GERMANY

Dr. Adenauer States Two Conditions

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9. The West German Federal Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) told the West German Parliament yesterday that his Government would accept any invitation from the Western Powers to participate in the defence of Western Europe if the two following conditions were met:— (1) The Federal Republic must have equal duties and rights with the other participating Powers. (2) The defence front must be sufficiently strong to prevent any Russian aggression. Dr. Adenauer was opening a twoday foreign affairs debate. He emphasised that his Government had not taken the initiative over a German military force, but he warned that the Western world was to-day in great danger. Germans must realise, he said, that it was impossible to expect the United States and the West European countries to assume the sacrifice involved in building up a defence front while they themselves did nothing. Dr. Adenauer said that the Soviet proposals for reuniting Germany were quite unacceptable. He considered the French plan for a European army with, if possible, the participation of Britain, a most important contribution to the unity and defence of Europe. Dr. Adenauer said amid applause that the Germans welcomed America’s recognition of its great task in the world and its readiness to fulfil this task in the interests of peace and freedom.

He said that efforts to obtain a peaceful settlement of world affairs must be continued. The present state of tension must be ended.

West Germany had not yet been asked, nor had the Republic offered to provide soldiers for a European army, said Dr. Adenauer. But. he said, the matter had been discussed now to clear up misunderstandings caused by irresponsible statements. Dr. Kurt Schumacher, speaking for the Social Democrat Opposition, said that Germany must say “no” to demilitarisation until large Allied forces were stationed in Germany. He said: “A German military contribution can be effective only if the West’s democratic forces are strong enough to carry a counter-offensive successfully eastwards in the case of aggression.” The German people were being deceived because a decision that Germany should join in the European defence organisation had already been made secretly.