About Face!

CAN A WHOLE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT TURN ON A pfennig? Germany's tried to last week, as domestic and international criticism swelled in response to the recent fire bombing in Molln that left a Turkish woman, her niece and granddaughter dead. Police moved swiftly, nabbing two suspects in the case, while government officials promised an array of moves designed to end the violence against foreigners. Among the initiatives are plans to expand surveillance and to ban extremist groups and even the racist music used to spread the xenophobic message. After two years in which the radicals claimed 3,400 attacks, Bonn is battered by charges that it has been halfhearted at best in its efforts to clamp down on the far right.

If Germany's neighbors had been disturbed by the tide of violence, they could take some satisfaction in Bonn's expeditious treatment of the Maastricht treaty. The Bundestag ratified the pact on European union by an overwhelming 543-17. The upper house of parliament could approve the treaty as early as next week. (See related story on page 43.)