No Compromise Democrats And Socialists

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 August 1949, Page 5

No Compromise Democrats And Socialists

BERLIN, August 21 (Rec. 11 a.m.). —The German Christian Democrat Union today resolved themselves against any compromise with the Socialists in the formation of the West German Government. This declaration came from a meeting at the home of Dr Konrad Adenauer, the probable Chancellor of the new Federal Government, at Rhoendorf, near Bonn. The Christian Democrat leaders of all 11 West German States met for their first full-scale Cabinet-making talks. The resolution said that the election victory was a mandate, not only for the Christian Democrat philosophy but for a free market policy over the ideas of Socialist planning. The resolution is a victory for Dr Adenaqer and Professor Ludwid Erhard, prospective Economics Minister, over the Christian Democrat Leftwing which favoured a broad coalition, including the Socialists. The rejection of a compromise between the two largest parties means that the Government will have to be based on a coalition between the Christian Democrats, the Free Democrats and one or more of the smaller parties. The most likely candidate for the part of the minor partner in the antiSocialist coalition is the strongly Right-wing German Party in the British zone, which holds 17 seats. Such a coalition, together with the Christian Social Union, would represent 208 seats in the Bundstag. Most of the leaders believe there are no fundamental differences with the Socialists on many political issues. It is on economic matters that opinions diverge. Before today’s meeting began, Dr Adenauer received at his home a representative from Rome of the Roman Catholic Church, Dr Grindel. Relations between the Western, German State and the Vatican are likely to be strengthened rapidly when the Government, led by the Christian Democrats, is in power.