GERMAN DEMOCRATS CHALLENGE SOVIET'S POLITICAL DICTATION

Grey River Argus, 2 January 1948, Page 7

GERMAN DEMOCRATS CHALLENGE SOVIET'S POLITICAL DICTATION

LONDON, December 30. The Christian Democrats of Germany 7 yesterday defied the Russian authorities by proclaiming their confidence in Mr. Jakob Kaiser and Mi. Ernst Lemmer, the leaders ot the partv in the eastern zone, whom the Russians are seeking to depose. Both refuse to join-, the so-called bloc front, which is in effect the Communistdominated Socialist Unity Party. The Berlin correspondent ol lhe Times” says that the decision was unanimous and was reached after a two-day conference in Berlin attended by'representatives of the movement'in the west as well as the east. “Both Mr. Kaiser and Mr. Lemmer,” the correspondent adds, “have insisted since the beginning of the crisis, and they did so again yesterday, that they had no wish to deepen the’differences between the Western democracies and Russia, but they have at the same time taken their stand on a major issue, namely, the right of political parties to independence of thought and action. “By supporting their leaders, the Christian Democrats have thrown out a challenge. The Russian reply is awaited with interest, but without anxiety.”