All in A Day's Work

East Germany's first freely elected parliament got down to business last week after approving a new noncommunist coalition government. In the space of six hours the legislators:

-- Apologized to the world's Jews for the Holocaust, promised them reparations and resolved to seek diplomatic relations with Israel.

-- Recognized the legitimacy of Poland's postwar borders.

--Expressed remorse for East Germany's role in the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

-- Endorsed the rapid unification of the two Germanys.

-- Agreed that a united Germany should be a member of NATO until a new European security system evolves.

-- Elected Lothar de Maiziere, the Christian Democratic leader, as Prime Minister.

The speedy pace was understandable, since the parliament will dissolve after the Germanys are merged. "There is an inner tension in playing the role of liquidator," said De Maiziere. "One of the psychological challenges I face is to take responsibility for an office which will become superfluous."