Adenauer Fails To Avert Crisis

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29983, 19 November 1962, Page 11

Adenauer Fails To Avert Crisis

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) BONN, November 17. Two attempts by the West German Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) to avert a crisis in his party’s coalition with the Free Democrats over the “Der Spiegel” affair ended in apparent failure today.

Dr. Erich Mende, leader of the Free Democrats, told reporters a second meeting with the Chancellor today had brought “nothing new” and the situation was the same as after the first discussion. A Free Democrat spokesman said the first session had ended “without result.”

The spokesman had said Dr. Adenauer had made no concessions to stave off the crisis, which centres on the retention of Mr Franz-Josef Strauss as Defence Minister. The Free Democrats are critical of Mr Strauss’s role in the “Der Spiegel” affair, holding him responsible for keeping news of the planned police swoop on the magazine from the Federal Minister of Justice, Mr Wolfgang Stammberger, a Free Democrat. Dr, Mende said last night he was making no ultimatum to the Chancellor, but further

co-operation with Mr Strauss in the Government was not possible. Bonn reports said the Free Democratic Party would decide on Monday whether to withdraw from the Government.

The reports said Dr. Adenauer was said to have refused to meet Free Democrat demands to dismiss Mr Strauss. If Dr. Adenauer did

not change his mind by Monday the Free Democrats would decide to remove their five Ministers from the Cabinet, party officials said. Crowd Jeers At Strauss

In Fuerth, Bavaria, a jeering, whistling crowd greeted Mr Strauss when he arrived today to speak at a Christian Democrat political gathering.

Bavaria is Mr Strauss's home State, and he has hitherto enjoyed wide popularity there. Police reinforcements sealed off the speakers’ platform while he spoke as the mobs, waving copies of “Der Spiegel,” howled for his resignation from the Government.

Rioters Shot —The Ethicpean Ambassador to Egypt shot and wounded two students and an Egyptian policeman today during a riot outside the Ethiopian Embassy.—Cairo, November 17.