Oldal 2 [2]
OCR
Xs Aei4, Nov. 52. - page two leadership ef the allegedly neutral Federation ef German Trade Uniens, the DGB. There is, besides these twe main lines, ene ether fac~ ter whe is petent and uncemmitted : the BHE, the Bund der Heimat~ vertriebenen und Entrechteten, the new refugee party, which is shewing impressive strength and has se far not clearly indicated yhizh side it is supporting. All the ether minor groups, regardless of the publicity they might get - effieial Communists, Neo-Nazis, Center, Federalist Unien, WVA ete. - are, politically speaking, without impertance and can be entirely overlooked as far as their future function within the constitutional framework is concerned : they yill have no influence werth mentioning. The pregramne of the Adenauer coalition is very clearly outlined : in foreign policy it is the strictest adherence te the Western Allianee, rearmament of the country within the Eurepean Community ef defence, radieal refusal of German neutrality in the confliet between Hast and West. Under Adenauer Germany is clearly cen mitted te the Atlantic forces. In domestic policies, Adenauer is following a ecenservative line in econemics and finances : balance of the budget, if possible reduction of taxes in order te give production an incentive, encouragement of domestic and foreign investment in new enterprises, gradual lifting ef currency restrietiens and trade barriers. Politically the greup is eonservative, going from eenservative Republicans - net numereus, except in the CDU - to ali shades ef Monarchists - the vast majority ef the governement supperters, Hence the policy is ene of federalism, regional autonomy, decentraligation. In its electoral declarations it is standing squarely on the achievements of the last four years of Adenauer governement, As already pointed eut, the greup is entirely deminated by the persenality ef Chancelior Adenauer; the "Old One" as he is universally called in Bonn. Adenauer is liked by few ; he is admired by many ; he is considered indispensible prebably by the large majo~ rity. Thés is dae to the fact, that Adenauer is at 76 ene of the strengest men beth physically and merallyin Bonn today. He is the gevernement, whieh he leads with brutal authority, Even in Cabinet meetings he is the authoritariam. He dees not permit members of the Cabinet te speak, unless he permits it. These of his members whe are long-winded er whe, in Adenauers opinion, have nothing particular te say te the point under discussion, are simply not permitted to talk at all, The mass of work Adenauer is doing is simply staggering. In this work he has an inner greup of men enjoying his econfidenee, men whe are entirely unknewn te the piblie, but whe wield immense pewer, like Benn's mystery man Klepke er seme ef the younger officials af tie Chancellor's Offiee. These have a power very similar te Roosevelt's brain-trust. But they exist enly threugh Adenauer. e cc " ; dines sisi
