Quasi-Ratification

Adroit and persistent old Chancellor Konrad Adenauer got the European Army treaty and the German peace contract through West Germany's Bundestag last March. Getting it past the Bundesrat (upper house) was harder. When he failed the first time, Adenauer announced coldly that he didn't need the Bundesrat's approval anyway. Soon a better idea appeared, and last week it came off. The Bundesrat took action, which, in Adenauer's view, at least puts it on record as favoring ratification. By a vote of 23-15, the upper house approved two annexes in the treaties dealing with taxes and customs, and disclaimed jurisdiction over the rest.

Adenauer is not yet over all his obstacles in West Germany. The Socialist opposition has started a court action to outlaw the treaties on the ground that the Bonn constitution makes no provision for rearmament. Moreover, before a single German soldier can pick up his gun, the other five signatories (France, Italy, Belgium. The Netherlands, Luxembourg) must ratify. So far none has.

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