East-West Talks In Germany

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 17

East-West Talks In Germany

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BERLIN, May 27.

The West German Socialist Party and the East German Communists have agreed to hold an unprecedented exchange of political debates in East and West Germany in July.

A joint communique announcing this was issued yesterday after negotiators from both sides met in East Berlin. It was the third such meeting. The communique said that the first debate would be in Karl Marx Stadt, East Germany, on July 14, and the second in Hanover, West Germany, on July 21. The agreement, which includes provision for full news

coverage, apparently left only the question of safe conduct for Communist speakers coming to the West standing in the way of the debates being held. West German political parties have agreed in principle to work out a legal solution for their safe conduct. The debates would be the first East-West political contacts in divided Germany in 20 . years. The idea has aroused great interest throughout Germany and there is hope that they could be a step towards reunification.

The Socialists have named the West Berlin Mayor, Mr Willy Brandt, who is also the party chairman, and his two party deputies as speakers. The Communists have not named theirs. The idea of the East-West debates grew out of a series of open letters exchanged between the Socialists and the Communists, with the Socialists picking up a Communist challenge to hold such meetings.

Aid Sought— The Indonesian Deputy Premier, Sultan Hemengku Buwono, today described his country's economic situation as “serious but not entirely hopeless." He indicated that help was being sought from both the United States and Russia.—Tokyo, May 27.