At time of writing no real cxmlenetion has bean given as -to why Mr.* was removed from office; One possible explanation is that he was defeated in ‘a bid to secure better relations with the ost by doin, some kind of a dial over the so-called German Democratic Republic (Hast Germany). ‘The pressef the Hastern bloc had been rife with denials that such a deal was am the offing: a sure sien that the matter was boing discussed! It nas also been clear that the leaders of the DH have been conducting a fight against such an eventuality. On June 24th. Ulbricht e:dd: "Wr. Erhard is roady to improve relations with the Soviet Union..crovided that the Sovict Union is prepared to sel4. to the (its), imnperialist—revenchiat demends." On July lth, 4. Nerden, 2 leadin* meviber-of the East German CP, said over television: "It is now obvious that 1+ is imposs-— ible to annex the GDR, or buy it from any other socialist country.” In an interview with the Polish C.F. paper, Trybunea Dudu, Ulbricht retarned to the sine thane on July 29th, declaring that “The German qussticn cannet Se solved in the absonce of the GDR..." Arein on tugust 8th, the Neues Deuteahlend (the Hast German C.P. paper) said that "The way of settling the German question ty bypassing or defying the GOn...simply dodsn't. exist..."
On the other hand, Jdzhutei, son-in-law of Mr, E.. ho was romoved from His position sas editor of Isvestie, spoke.enthusiastically of what he called the "realistic: attitude” of the Brhard Government, during and after a yisit to West Cormany., Ha described Erhard as a person "one can talk vith,” end in articles in [evestiacon tpust 8, 10, la end 15, he spoke of changes in the attitude of est Gorman leaders, He said Strauss, who had been considered a “Mest aggressive extremist” had aAbantoned the idca of "“wipine out the Soviet Union."
At this point the Chinese intervened in the pseudo-discussion. Their first major pronouncerent wea on September @th (just 7 days after Ulbricht had once more reiterrsted thet the "Garman question cannot be settled in the absence eee0f the GDR) in an editorial in People's Daily entitled "No Criminal. Deal Cher SiR". They eaaids "Of date, there has been a noisy cutery in Bonnss.for the ‘peaceful! elimination of the GDR. .swhat: makes the Bonn revanchista: eo. bold? «estan It be thet they have received tacit approwal or hinte from those who recently talked, in preise of the Test German militariste?.." The editertal pledged full support for the Hast German reszime aeninst such a proposal,
Meanwhile news trickled through of a mecting between Xhrushchoy and. the fordign ministers Foland, Hungary and Bulesaria, which tas held in Czechoslovekia - western news Agencies saying that tithouzh the German question was discussed the GDR was not represented. These reports were not denied, This meeting was supposed to have approved the line.-to be taken .during E.'s visit te: Tester Germany, Discussing this wieit 4 = the East German radio, Redio Dentschiander, said on September lith “Anyone who thinks that the GD2z ean be bought..,is8, to sey the least, 2 fool..."
The next tioves were mide by twa men who are No. 1 and 3 respectively in the Soviet Unien Erezhney and Suslov. ‘The former was head of the Soviet party and government deleretion to East Germaryy to attend the colabrations of that regime's 15th aniversary, Speaking in Berlin on Getober 6th, prseinad pe) short-sighted politicians divorced from real life..can hope for"i. he tnd the back of the GDR to ..(its) detriment." Suslov, speaking the previous day in Moscow at a meeting: which was celobrating the GHB's- anniversary, declared that there would be "no deal with Eonm at the expense of the GDR". Howover, the most direct reference to Mhrushchoy was in Free World, the organ of the GIR-UsSh Friendship tssoc,, In an article entitied "How mach does GDR cost’", E.. lesener wrote: "1.9 WOuld Hot be insulting Khrushchoy if we shield him from such
THE eae 2 NO. 14. PAGE 22 BUROPEAN NOTES.