RUSSIAN HEADS CONFER

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1949, Page 5

RUSSIAN HEADS CONFER

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

New German Government Is Being Planned

Copyrtght)

Received Tuesday, 10.30 a.m. BERLIN, Oct. 3. The Soviet zone political leaders conferred with Russian officials at the Soviet headquarters in Karlshorst today working out details of a new Government which may claim to speak for all Germany, according to usually reliable German sources. High British officials stated that they expected that the new Government wpuid be proclaimed in the next few days. German' sources said that the conference was attended by the head of the Soviet Military Administration, General Vassili Chuikov, the Soviet Ambassador, Mr. V. S. Semeonov, who is General Chuikov's political adviser, and the heads of all the Soviet Military Government departments. Germans who attended the meeting include.d representatives of the Communistic Socialist Unity Party, Soviet !Zone Liberal Democrats, Christian Democrats and National Democrats. It is also reported that Cabinet Ministers from all five Provincial Governments of the East zqne have been summoned to Karlsliorst for an important meeting tomorrowfl The Soviet zone leaders are expected to work out details of the new "German Democratic Republic," after which a meeting of the Soviet-sponisored People's Council. will be convened to proclaim the new Government. The Russians apparently do not intend to hold an election before the new Government is established. The Russian commander, General Tulpanov, is quoted as saying that the holding of elections at present would be undemocratic and unfair to the Socialist Unity Party because, being newly organised, it could not put its full weight into the campaign. The French-licensed newspaper Kurien said: "If the development continues as it now has every appearance of doing that last hope of repairing the broken links of Berhn are gone. Even worse, two Governments would claim to speak and negotiate for the nation and those who completed the splitting of Germany would have their seats in the old capital."