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CHRONOLOGY
The Genesis of the German Federal Republic
1 June 1948: At the conclusion of the Lon-
don Six-Power Conference, the
U. S., Britain, France and the
Benelux countries reach agree-
ment on recommending to their
Governments the establishment
of a Federal Government for
Western Germany.
1 July 1948: In Frankfurt, the approved re-
commendations of the London
Conference are conveyed to the
Ministers President of the
eleven German Liinder by the
U. S., British and French Mil-
itary Governors.
26 July 1948:
August 1948:
1 September 1948:
22 November 1948:
10 February 1949:
2 March 1949:
The Military Governors and
the Ministers President reach
an accord on implementation of
London Agreement.
Meeting on Herrenchiemsee Is-
land in Bavaria, a group of
German constitutional experts
and politicians prepare a pre-
liminary draft for a provisional
constitution.
The Parliamentary Council con-
venes in Bonn to draft a pro-
visional  constitution  ("Basic
Law"). The 65 Delegates (27
CDU/CSU, 27 SPD, 5 FDP,
2 Center Party, 2 DP, 2 KPD),
plus 5 non-voting observers
from Berlin, all chosen by the
legislatures of their Linder,
elect Dr. Konrad Adenauer as
President.
An aide-memoire clarifying the
Military Governors' interpreta-
tion of certain parts of the
London Agreement is presented
to the Parliamentary Council.
The Main Committee of the
Parliamentary Council passes
the draft of the Basic Law in
third reading.
The three Military Governors
request changes of certain pro-
visions of the draft Basic Law
to bring it into harmony with
the principles of the London
Agreement.
5 April 1949:
A"
In Washington, the Foreign
Ministers of the U. S., Great
Britain and France express their
"confidence" that the Parlia-
mentary Council will "give the
necessary  attention"  to  the
Military Governors' recommen-
dations.
8 April 1949: At the Washington Conference
of the U. S., British and French
Foreign Ministers, the Occupa-
tion Statute is approved, and
the transfer of authority from
the   Military  Governors  to
civilian High Commissioners
agreed upon.
22 April 1949:
Acting under instructions from
their Governments, the Military
Governors transmit to the Par-
liamentary Council the views of
the U. S., British and French
Foreign 'Ministers on certain
aspects of the Basic Law.
8 May 1949: The modified   Basic Law   is
adopted in the Parliamentary
Council by 53 votes to 12. Of
the opposition ballots, 6 were
cast by the Bavarian CSU,
2 each by Deutsche Partei,
Zentrum and Communists.
12 May 1949: The Military Governors of the
three Western Zones approve
the Basic Law, subject to cer-
tain reservations contained in
their "Letter of Approval", and
at the !same time promulgate
the Occupation Statute.
18-21 May 1949:
Ten LUnder Parliaments ratify
the Basic Law. The Bavarian
Landtag rejects it while ex-
pressly recognizing its validity
once it has been approved by
two-thirds of the constituent
Lander. The West Berlin City
Parliament, although not re-
quired   to   express   itself,
unanimously approves it.