SOCIAL DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST FUSION

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1946, Page 5

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST FUSION

Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, April 1. With about 1500 of the 24,000 votes not counted, the Berlin Social Democrats voted 85 per cent. against fusion j with the Communists. Last-minute in- j tervention from the Russians stopped ! voting in the soviet sector. On the j second issue — whether the parties should eventually he allied — 60 per j cent. voted in favour. Despite a request from the central committee for an embargo on the pleoiscite, 70 per cent. of the members par- j ticipated. Reuter's correspondent says' the results are thus considered a blow i to the prestige of the central .commit- ' tee, whose headquarte'rs are in 'the Kus- j sian Zone. The correspondent under- j scands that the Social Democrats opposmg fusion now plan to call for the central committee 's resignation and the estahlishment of a separate branch of the party. The voters were asked to answer two questions: (1) Are you in favour of the lmmediate fusion oi both workers' parties? (2) Are you in favour of an aiiiance which will ensure joint work to prevent fraternal strife? x'or several weeks Berlin was flooded with propaganda posters favouring fusion, issued by the central committee. T'hough the Russians hanned voting in their zone, 500 residents in one Russian district crossed into the Rrench sector, established a poliing station and recorded their votes there, but it is not likely that they will he recognised. The Daily Telegraph 's Berlin correspondent understands that the plebiscite committee will again apply to the Russians for authority to carry out voting later.