European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bonn defers key decision on unification Washington Post new York times Chancellor Helmut Kohls insistence on deferring key decisions about a unified Germany to some future pan German parliament reflects caution and uncertainty about the rapidly shifting political scene in both German states. Kohl s sympathy and personal Friendship with president Bush were evident in their two Days of talks Over the last weekend at Camp David. But the imminence of elections in the two Germany the persisting Haemorrhage of East germans to the West and the delicacy of economic and Security factors compelled Kohl to shun any binding commitments for a United Germany on such issues As nato membership and the final status of its Borders that were sought by Bush. The Chancellor s political future and the person Likely to Lead a greater Germany will be determined by the West German election in december. To win Kohl feels he needs to hold the votes of Many German exiles in his Christian democratic Union who came from territories that became Western Poland after the War. They have Long yearned for the return of German sovereignty to those areas and the rightist nationalist Republican party is trying to woo their votes. So far Kohl appears to have successfully fended off poaching by the republicans by leaving the Border question open to a future decision by a United German government. But though he has emphasized his personal View about the integrity of existing Borders his assurances have not been sufficient to ease the anxieties of the polish government. Poles Are worried that Germany might claim bits of Post world War ii Poland such As East Prussia and Silesia former German territory where Many ethnic germans still live. They Are so worried that they have demanded so far unsuccessfully a place at the table where the terms of unification Are to be decided. Czechoslovak have similar concerns about the sudetenland. Though he rejected a Central role for Poland in the talks Bush stated crisply at Camp David Quot the United states formally recognizes the current German polish  but Kohl for All his talk about the feelings of Quot our polish neighbors Quot for ail his protestations that West Germany had no desire to change Borders resorted at Camp David again to the kind of phrasing that sends Shivers up the a is. Xiv Al it East 5 Prussia y. T Pomerania at of Silesia a. Land ceded by Germany after world War ii a amps Susan Harris spines in Warsaw and elsewhere in Europe. Quot the Border question will be settled definitely Quot he said Quot by a freely elected All German parliament a without pre unification pledges from East Germany or West Germany in other words and without the participation of other nations in the decision. Seeking to capitalize on new patriotic Fervour As he approaches the Campaign Kohl has tried to depict himself As leading the charge toward German Unity. In recent weeks he and his aides have sought to accelerate the drive toward a German merger by promoting monetary Union and warning about a collapse in the East German Economy if a West German currency bailout does not happen soon. The Bonn government seems to favor accession under its Federal system by the five regions of East Germany which can be done under article 23 of the West German Constitution and would not require peace treaties to be signed or new National institutions to be set  Kohls pressure tactics to establish a Quick Union Are increasingly showing signs of political risk and some officials in Bonn believe he May have to Back off when he realizes the potential consequences. Karl Otto Stihl the powerful head of the West German Bundesbank says that Early monetary Union could mean higher taxes in West Germany and a big Rise in joblessness in East Germany that could cause the exodus to grow. More than 110,000 East germans have crossed to the West so far this year and the need to reduce the tide has become a top priority for both German governments. East German 6migr6s were greeted last fall with tears and Champagne in West Germany. Now they Are increasingly met with resentment and disdain. When the first Waves arrived through Hungary or Czechoslovakia they were escaping from tangible repression and breaching a Barrier that had cooped them up for 40 years. Now with the Gates wide open and democratization in Progress they Are increasingly perceived by West germans to be fleeing Only for the Money and in the process to be both undermining the East German Economy and straining West German social services. That in turn has made the exodus the dominant argument for rapid unification. Last year 344,000 East germans crossed into West Germany along with 377,000 ethnic germans from Eastern Europe and 121,000 third world Asylum seekers. A Large number Are unemployed and no end to the flow a now at a rate of about 2,250 a Day from East Germany alone a is in sight. West German resentment is spurred by fears they will be forced to pay the resettlement costs through higher taxes and interest rates. To stave off a voter backlash in december there is some speculation that Kohl will have to find ways to Cut benefits to the immigrants if Only to discourage other East germans from coming West. The timing of the evolution from economic to political Union is also Likely to be re evaluated soon within the Bonn government. The Prospect that the social democrats will emerge As the largest vote getter in the East German elections on March 18 has aroused fears in Kohl s party that rapid progess toward Unity could bring about an All German election in december in which the combined votes in East and West would make the social democrats the biggest party in a United Germany. East Germany s social democrats As Well As other parties there Are proposing that the two German states form a joint Quot Unity Council Quot to draft a new Constitution based on West Germany s. A referendum on the draft would then be held followed by elections for an All German parliament. That position is now embraced by virtually every political party in the East. In preparing the dissolution of the East German state the social democrats say they want to form a Broad governing coalition that would include All parties except the discredited communists. 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