NEWS OF THE WEEK
IN the election of Professor Theodor Heuss as first President of the West German Republic the Bundestag and the representatives of the Lander, on whom the responsibility was jointly laid, have made probably the best choice open to them. Dr. Boechler, the highly respected trade union leader, and one or two others, would no doubt have tilled the post well, but none of them can command the same combination of qualities as Dr. Heuss. That is quite sufficient reason why Dr. Adenauer should have put him forward. He has for weeks been talked of as the most probable President and all the prospects are that he will justify his selection. It is true that in 1933 he voted for the conferment of full powers on Hitler, but any illusions he may have entertained then were soon dispelled, and he took a studiously moderate and anti-Nazi line throughout the war. In the drafting of the new West German constitution he played an almost indispensable part. The powers conferred on the President by that constitution are not extensive, but extra-constitu- tional influence can be potent, as M. Vincent-Auriol has demon- strated in France. It would no doubt have been preferable if a President could have been elected without opposition, but the temperatures raised by the election are not down to normal yet ; even so it was singularly inept for the Social Democrats to nominate for a post demanding above all things objectivity and restraint so fiery a party leader as Dr. Schumacher. As it is, the new republic looks like starting its course under a President able, fair-minded and moderate. His short speech after the election, emphasising as it did the wisdom of avoiding an excess of centralisation, which would give any Nazi hot-heads their opportunity, and declaring for the inclusion of Germany in a larger international society on the ground that "Germany needs Europe, but Europe needs Germany," was of good omen for the future. And the understanding between Presi- dent and Chancellor, who can clearly be none other than Dr. Adenauer, will undoubtedly be close. It will need to be, for delicate problems will arise at once, notably dismantling, which it is to be hoped Mr. Bevin, Mr. Dean Acheson and M. Schuman have been discussing to some purpose in Washington. Dr. Adenauer will need all the help he can get from the Allies.
