World Notes THE GERMANYS

The headlong rush toward unification picked up still more speed last week as East German Prime Minister Lothar de Maiziere urged that all-German elections be moved up from Dec. 2 to Oct. 14. De Maiziere's appeal came just one day after the two Germanys signed a treaty for the first free all-German vote in 57 years. De Maiziere explained that October elections would encourage West German investment in East Germany's floundering economy. West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl welcomed the proposal, which will improve the chances of the Christian Democrats, the party of both the Chancellor and De Maiziere, since the opposition will have less time to organize.

At the same time, Bonn's Defense Minister announced that West German officers would take charge of East German troops in a united army. Negotiators from the two Germanys also agreed last week that Berlin would be the capital of a unified Germany.