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Berlin Press Views
Zone-Wide Elections
Discussion of the Zone-wide elections for
constitutional assemblies has been featured
in recent editorials by the Berlin press. Der
Tagesspiegel, US-licensed paper, found the
elections to be the most important which
have been held in the American area because
they laid the basis for the future federal
structure of the German state.
In its editorial regarding the elections,
Neues Deutschland, organ of the Socialist
Unity Party, attacked the constitutional
drafts, claiming that they have been drawn
up by "those circles which had various reas-
ons for undermining the demands of the
progressive forces of Germany for a political
and economically united Germany." Declar-
ing that the elections will have a great im-
portance for all of Germany, the paper states
that the candidates who are elected will have
to make important decisions regarding the
unity or splitting of Germany. Fear is ex-
pressed that the CSU will continue to remain
under the influence of forces which want to
use the CSU as a basis for reaction.
Kurier, French licensed paper, observed
that part of the propaganda regarding the
elections has been very strong, but interest
on the part of the people has been weak.
". . . This fourth series of elections is the
most important one carried through this
year," states the paper, reasoning that "the
new bodies will have to draw up the first
constitutions which might have a great in-
terest on the future structure of Germany."
Saxonian Plebescite
Commenting on the Saxonian plebescite,
Taegliche Rundschau, Soviet organ, declares:
"With this decision the Saxonian population
have demonstrated their determination to put
an end to the rule of the Hlitlerists and those
who pushed the German people into the
criminal war .. . By their decision the popu-
lation of the federal Land, Saxony, have
shown to all working people of Germany
and the whole world that they are willing
to take the way of democratization of Ger-
many. There is no doubt that people all
over the world who have been following at-
tentively the events in post-war Germany
will gain the fullest satisfaction from this
important and significant decision . . ."'
Another comment on the plebiscite comes
from Der Tagesspiegel, which points
out that the result was not unexpected,
adding further that one doesn't really know
now whether the 'no' votes were cast by
real democrats or real reactionaries.
Question of Federalism
The question of federalism was pointedly
discussed by German newspapers in the US
Zone in pre-election editorials on proposed
constitutions, according to Information Con-
trol reports on press opinions.
Calling for a constitution based on the
principle of "self-government ... not s trangl-
ed by centralistic bureaucracy," the Frank-
furter Neue Presse said "If one talks about
federalism, then, first of all, we must abolish
the false federalism and replace it by real
federalist planning that has its roots in clean-
cut economic and regional units. The Allied
Military Government has done valuable
spade work in this field that will save Ger-
man political groups many an embarrassing
dicision."
The Frankfurter Rundschau, however, at-
tacking all federalistic elements in the future
constitution, said, "It is high time that the
work of the constitutional draft will be en-
trusted with the representatives of the work
people. Yet, the people want a constitution
which realizes their desire for freedom, de-
mocracy and socialism."
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