OCR
X.A.No. 14 for Nevember 1952. THE WORLD AS SEEN FROM BONN. The rapid emergence of Germany as a great pewer during the first part of this year, has made ef Benn one of the most dynamic centers of the Centinent. Compared te Benn, Paris and London seem today to be sleepy, by-passed tewns. This is net enly due te the great movement ef foreign ebservers, military and political persens, as well as international statesmen. It is alse due, at least in part, to an eptical illusion favourable te the town : in a town the size ef Paris or London most things get somehow lest 3; in Benn, a small town with few gevernemental facilities, few Hetels, few residences, everything id very obvious indeed, and hence is likely te attwaet widest attention. But even with this eonsideratien in mind, the ebserver in Sonn gains the impression that here is today one of the main focal points ef European policies. Being the eenter of German demestie affairs - and t.ese affairs are today the cencern of the world it becomes by necessity one of the mest important places te watch. Hence, besides every German ef importance, the ebserver will meet a large and well trained American, British and Freneh personnell, plus a first elass group ef men whe are trying, with mere er less success, te defend and represent the interests ef the USSR. Ths latter group is the more interesting, since it represents fairly accurately the latest political trends and plans ef the Kremlin. In domestic German affairs the situation is tense, since general elections are due late next spring. The battle, which will be of the greatest consequence,is already casting its shadews ahead. It is leading to bitterness, strife qnd a radicalization in beth parties, since the importance of the battle is enermous. It yill have a decisive impaet en all phases ef German life, the eceuntry's economic structure, foreien policy as well as the all -impertant interpretation te be given te the German censtitution. Since the stakes are thus very high indeed, the battle promises te be very bitter and hard-fought. The situation is simplifyed by the fact, that the froentlines are elearly drawn. There is on the one hand the gevernement Front, headed by Chancellor Adenauer and supported by the Christian Demoeratie Union, the Bavarian Christian Seeial Unien, the Liberal Free Democratie Party, the Menarchist-Censervative German Party and enjeying the sympathy ef the Bavarian Party, a regional erganigatien. The ether line is headed by the new Socialist leader Ollenhauer and includes the German Socialist Party plus the efficial thas e wig j i = the as Y 3 i i : 2 S4. Py eal ST aera eter a nS ERs ~~