NEW POLICY OF GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27147, 17 September 1953, Page 9

NEW POLICY OF GERMANY

Assurance Given To France

LONDON, September 15. French fears that West Germany might provoke another world war in order to achieve unity were unfounded, the West German Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) said today. He said the proposed European Army represented the “best guarantee” that Germany, as well as the other contributing countries, would organise herself only for peace. “I believe our neighbours will forget the evils of the past if the Germans themselves do not forget them,” he said.

In an interview with the French newspaper, “France Soir,” Dr. Adenauer said the best way of creating good French and German relations would be for both nations to work together for the maintenance of peace. He attributed the party’s election success to its policy of European cooperation.

Addressing 243 deputies of his Christian Democratic Union, who were elected to the Bundestag in the General Election of September 6, at Bonn today, Dr. Adenauer said the Soviet Union had lost the cold war. The next four years would bring decisions of the greatest importance for the German people. A united Europe was now bound to come.

Dr. Adenauer'said the task of his party was to consolidate the values of Christendom in Europe and fight the dangers of the mass State. West Germany had now become an important factor in world affairs. The Christian Democratic Union would continue its foreign policy leading towards the reunion of Germany in peace and freedom.

Dr. Adenauer said the party would lay heavy emphasis on social policy in the next four years. Particular attention would be paid to housing, especially the building of family houses. The party would also do its utmost to promote the modernisation of West Germany’s heavy industry, which had fallen behind through war and dismantling. This could best be done by the encouragement of private capital formation.