The Socialist Mind

Like their British comrades, Germany's Socialists are opposed to Western European union--unless, of course, such a union could be dominated by the Socialists (see INTERNATIONAL). In Bonn last week, German Socialist Leader Kurt Schumacher gave the reasons for his party's stand. He also furnished his audience with an interesting insight into the workings of the Socialist mind.

Up before the Bundestag was a three-month-old invitation to Western Germany to join the Council of Europe. Still weak from a bout with the grippe, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer made his points a little wearily, like a grandfather repeating a self-evident lesson. Said he: "I do not think that the Western Allies will regard a refusal to enter the Council of Europe as a mark of our friendly approach . . . The Council of Europe is a first attempt to unite Western Europe as a federation. If the Federal Republic refuses to participate, the Council of Europe is finished."

Then Schumacher rose to the attack. By joining the Council of Europe, argued Schumacher, West Germany would serve notice that it had finally abandoned its 17 million East German brothers to Red rule. Schumacher in advance suspected a united Western Europe of turning into a neutral bloc, which would try to concentrate on its own affairs, fail to carry out a vigorous political offensive against the Russians in Eastern Europe. What was needed, said Schumacher, was not a united Western Europe but a united Europe--with a united Germany at its center. But he failed to say how he would achieve this end in the foreseeable future, or how a disunited Western Europe would aid the worldwide fight against Communism.

Adenauer, like U.S. policymakers, argued for a limited but possible aim: Schumacher talked himself into the position of wanting all or nothing. After heated debate, the Bonn Assembly sided with Adenauer, voted 220-152 to join the Council. Said Konrad Adenauer exultantly, "Germany's road to Europe is now open." Wrote French High Commissioner Andre Franc,ois-Poncet in a letter to Adenauer: "I am convinced [this step] will have as favorable results for your country as for the cause of solidarity among the European nations."

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