The German Social Democrats' campaign against the ratifi- cation of
the Paris Treaties is not based on any hope of success in the Bundestag. Few of them believe that the merging Of West Germany into NATO can be prevented; but they are anxious to take advantage of the wave of anti-militarist feeling, which brings on to their platforms many men with far from social democratic sympathies. The Social Democrats genuinely want a West Germany free from all military alliances, within an international system of collective security, under the auspices of the UN: and they believe that they could offer this 'neutral- isation' (though they prefer to avoid the term) to Russia as a ransom for the return of Eastern Germany. This is not very realistic; and those Social Democrats who recognise as much are probably relieved that they are not in a position to make the offer, which the Russians would certainly reject. But in the meantime they are delighted to be able to take advantage of the unpopularity the Adenauer government must collect by the fact that it is committed to rearmament. Dislike of Prussianism, the desire for peace, the notorious ohne mich attitude, and religious scruples all help to reinforce the very real fear in German minds that a close alliance with the Western Powers will destroy the chance of re-unification : and if a plebiscite were held on the Paris proposals, Dr. Adenauer's chances would be slim.
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