Demolishing a Shibboleth

Despite disagreements on other is sues, West Germany's major parties have religiously respected the Federal Republic's No. 1 political taboo -- that Bonn should never consider or discuss recognition of the East German regime of Communist Boss Walter Ulbricht. Now that shibboleth of two decades has been demolished. In search of a campaign issue in next September's national elections, the Free Democratic Party--which has shucked its old conservative image for a daring almost New Left look --has already declared that it favors recognition of East Germany. Last week, in a slightly hedged manner, Willy Brandt's Social Democrats also came out in favor of recognizing the existence of the other Germany.

The new willingness to think about the unthinkable reflects a widespread restiveness on the part of many young West Germans over the division of the country. Since Bonn's old method of trying to isolate East Germany has not brought unification any nearer, many West Germans want to try some other way of pulling the two halves closer together.

Two States. The attitudes could have an important effect. The recognition issue might strengthen the bridge between the Free Democrats and Socialists, whose joint action in electing a new West German President two months ago signaled a willingness to work together. Already the issue has begun to cause friction in the Grand Coalition between the Socialists and their senior partners, the Christian Democrats. The extent of the disagreement is likely to become more evident this week when the Bundestag opens a debate on the East German question. The Free Democrats, whose 49 Deputies constitute the only opposition in the Bundestag to the Socialists and Christian Democrats, want West Germany to sign a treaty with East Germany that would recognize each state as a separate and sovereign political entity "within the German nation." The Free Democrats have found sympathizers among about one-third of the delegates to last week's Socialist congress in Bad Godesberg. Two important regional delegations even pushed for a resolution similar to the Free Democrats' program. But Brandt and Deputy Chairman Herbert Wehner tempered the Socialist stand somewhat while still coming out in favor of accepting East Germany as a political fact of life. Read the Socialist resolution: "It would be unrealistic to deny the existence of the other part of Germany or not to take cognizance of the political realities."

The Christian Democrats, who have ruled West Germany either alone or in coalition since its founding in 1949, still bitterly oppose recognition of East Germany. "The Free Democrats," charged C.D.U. Deputy Ernest Miiller-Hermann, "are a band of guerrilla fighters who do the bidding of the other side behind the backs of the government." Warning against a sellout to the Communists, Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger derisively tagged the Free Democrats as the "Anerkennungspartei"--party of recognition. The Christian Democrats argue that recognition would imperil the security of isolated West Berlin by undermining the allied guarantees for the city, legalize the Communist hold on East Germany and sanction the permanent division of the country.

No Assurance. According to confidential government polls, 51% of West German voters still feel much the same way (v. 29% in favor of recognition and 20% undecided). There is, as Christian Democrats point out, no assurance that recognition would bring the two Germanys any closer together. In fact, if Ulbricht behaves according to past form, any West German offer of more intimate ties will only cause him to withdraw even farther behind the walls and barbed wire that fence off his land. Much as he would love full recognition for his regime, Ulbricht fears that a closer relationship with his free and rich neighbor might weaken his grip on the East Germans.

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