German Deputies Ask Bonn Government to Check Scientists in Egypt

A group of members of the West German Bundestag called today on the West German Government to urge West German scientists and technicians to halt work in Egypt on advanced weapons. The deputies, representing three Parliamentary parties, issued the call after meeting with Bonn officials on the issue. They declared that they “condemned” the work of the scientists and they pledged to introduce measures to ban such activities.

The demand was the strongest yet made in Germany in the controversy sparked by a formal request of the Government of Israel for action to halt the weapons development in Egypt. It paralleled a similar demand made yesterday by Dr. Carlo Schmid, a vice-president of the West German Parliament, who also said that the West German scientists were acting in violation of the West German constitution.

The article in the constitution to which Dr. Schmid referred declares that any act tending to disturb peaceful co-existence of nations or leading to preparation of an offensive war is unconstitutional. The article also specifies that weapons of war can be made, shipped and distributed only with Government approval.

Dr. Schmid, who is a member of the opposition Social Democratic party, also asserted that any person helping Egypt to produce rockets, warheads or any other “devillish means,” was making war more likely. He also warned that successful development of such weapons might some day encourage the Arab countries to change “the political situation” in “one brief stroke.” This comment was seen in the context of the unremitting threats of the Arab countries to destroy Israel.