West Germany: The Issue Is the Rule of Law

Chancellor Konrad Adenauer saved his regime from collapse over the Der Spiegel "treason" scandal last week. But nothing der Alte did or said could muffle the growing noise surrounding his government's role in the affair.

Still in jail were Publisher Rudolf Augstein and the top editors of his brash newsmagazine, which had angered the government by its incessant criticism and allegedly had broken the law by its publication of "secret" details of the strength of the West German army (TIME. Nov. 9). Still scouring Der Spiegel's Hamburg headquarters for evidence were the...