NEW GERMAN ARMY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27698, 30 June 1955, Page 13

NEW GERMAN ARMY

Wild Debate In Bundestag BONN, June 28. Uproar broke out in the West German Parliament’s Bundestag (Lower House) today during a speech by the Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) on the bill to authorise the recruitment of about 6000 key officers and men for the new West German forces. The Chancellor, disregarding the detailed criticism that has just been made of the bill by the Opposition Leader (Mr Erich Ollenhauer) said: “I regret profoundly the violence of the Opposition’s attack. I had hoped it would be possible to win the Social Democratic (Opposition) Party over to collaboration on the basis of democracy.” For the next five minutes Opposition members roared at Dr. Adenauer, banged their desks and shouted "Pfui.” Mr Ollenhauer had described the bill as a monstrosity. After the noise had abated, Dr. Adenauer said: “It appears that we are of different opinions.” This provoked another wave of shouting and gesticulations from the Opposition, followed by counter-cheers from the Government. Dr. Adenauer went on: “I only said I had hoped that after the Paris treaties had been adopted by such a large majority by this Parliament it would have been possible to cooperate on the basis of these treaties.” Detailed Bill Later Dr. Adenauer said that weighty questions of organisation should be left to later debates on the detailed “Soldiers’ Bill” which was coming up for debate soon. “Mr Ollenhauer has apparently for- . gotten that 150.000 men have already been raised in military formations In the East German republic. The youth is being prepared for civil war against us. “It is my opinion that our policy has proved the only right one. This is the policy that has led to the consolidation of the West, the Geneva conference and the invitation to the German Chancellor to visit Moscow. “The Opposition’s policy would not have led to Geneva. It would have ended with 50.000.000 West Germans being led like lambs to the slaughter- r house.”