European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 30, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A View of government buildings in the parliament area of Bonn West Germany a capital along the Rhine. Will the Reich Stag building in Berlin once again House a German parliament the photo Here was taken in the late 1920s in the Days of the pre nazi Weimar Republic. Fire gutted most of the building s Interior in february 1933.back to Berlin germans debate shifting capital from Bonn by John Wilner United press International confident that German unification will take place by the end of this year germans Are now engaged in one of the first major Battles of National politics since the country s division 45 years ago. The majority feel that Berlin a the historic City of 3 million that served As United Germany a capital from 1871 until the end of world War ii a should be restored to its former role. But Bonn a West Germany s sleepy capital along the Rhine a has emerged As the Center of resistance to the Berlin proposal and is fighting furiously to prevent it from happening. Both sides Are waging vigorous campaigns. Although the move to Berlin seems inevitable Many of Bonne a 290,000 residents refuse to concede defeat. Various Compromise formulas that could give both cities political status Are being discussed by politicians. The mayors of East and West Berlin speaking at a june 25 news conference in Bonn insisted that plans for further government expansion in Bonn be abandoned. A it s a waste of Money Quot West Berlin mayor Walter Momper said. A Quot Berlin the capital Quot sticker adorned the podium from which he spoke. Bonn residents have retaliated with their own slogan Quot Bonn remains the capital Quot an opinion poll indicated that 91 percent of East germans and 72 percent of West germans agree with the Berlin sticker. This has not been lost on senior politicians in both states who have become increasingly vocal in their support for Berlin As the future capital. East germ Dot president Lothar de Maiziere proposed that the idea be included in the final unification treaty. West German president Richard von Weizsaecker and foreign minister Hans Dietrich Genscher have also called for a Swift decision in Berlin s favor. Only West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl wary of offending his potential electorate in both cities has avoided making a commitment to either Camp saying that the Issue should be decided by the first parliament of a United Germany the inaugural session is expected to be held in Berlin s Reich Stag the historic building that housed the German parliament until Adolf hitter s Rise to Power. Deputies might Well decide not to return to Bonn a Small City with narrow streets and a provincial Charm that looks like a tourism poster for Central Germany s wine growing Region. Residents enjoy telling visitors that Bonn was chosen Over Frankfurt a much larger financial Center As the West German capital because Konrad Adenauer the first West German Chancellor was mayor of nearby Cologne and 4,t2f Quot 5 Rev�W-1. A ext a downtown West Berlin with the ruins of the Kaiser i reunited country a capital seems inevitable to Many 0 did not want to leave his carefully tended Garden. In the past government officials defended Bonn s diminutive stature by stressing that it was never intended to be a permanent capital and was purposely kept Small to emphasize that West Germany did not recognize the Post War division of the country. A Many of these same officials Are now hard pressed to explain Why the capital should not be relocated 400 Miles to the East in Berlin. Bonn supporters argue that returning the capital to Berlin might conjure up images of resurgent German nationalism that would worry Germany a neighbors and give Rise to what a former Chancellor Willy Brandt has called Quot a pernicious new  Quot if they choose Berlin Quot said Thomas Trautwein 33, a computer Programmer from Bonn. To afraid it could Lead to policies that we Haven t had for 40 years we Are German we Are a Strong and mighty nation and we must Rule Over Europe. These policies led directly to  his Girlfriend Lucia Schluter a Bonn Hairdresser sees things More personally Quot i think it will Cost too much in new  some Bonn residents think these problems could be solved if the two cities shared the responsibilities of government. Quot other countries have had Good experiences with a Well balanced distribution of Power and appearance,1 minister for labor and social affairs Norbert Bim said Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes Mondl