A GOOD START AT BONN
Dr. Adenauer's references to the Occupying Powers individually, in the course of Tuesday's debate, were nicely balanced—a cordial word for Mr. Bevin, a declaration that the age-long antagonism be- tween Germany and France must be banished for ever, and warm appreciation of all that America has done for the German economy. Britain's part might have been given fuller recognition (as it was by Dr. Schumacher on Wednesday), but it would be profitless to dwell on a discrimination which may well have been un- intentional. A firm refusal to accept the Oder-Neisse line as Germany's eastern frontier, and a demand for the reunion of the Eastern and Western Zones, was inevitable : so was the declaration for a free economy, to which, naturally enough, Dr. Schumacher took strong exception on Wednesday. That issue is likely more than any other to divide Government and Opposition, as it divided at the election the parties they respectively represent. With the formal constitution of the new Government—the Chancellor's list of fourteen Ministers was issued on Tuesday—Military Government by the Allies comes to an end and the civilian Allied High Commis- sion, governed by the Occupation Statute, assumes office. The transition was marked by a simple but markedly friendly ceremony
in which Dr. Adenauer on the one side and the High Commissioners on the other took part at the latter's headquarters at Petersberg on Wednesday.
