FOR COORDINA4WITH s

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NAZI WAR CRIMES DISCLOSURE ACT2000

DOCUMENT ID: 102990644INQNO: DOC1AD 00263359DOCNO:PRODUCER:SOURCE: MILITARYDOCTYPE:DOR: 19870820TOR: 13350000DOCPREC: RORIGDATE: 198708201335DOCCLASS: U

HEADER00 RUEAIIADE RUFHOLA #5683 2321334ZNR UUUXX0 201333Z AUG 87FM USIS BONNTO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC IMMEDIATEINFO RUEADWW/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC//NSC IMMEDIATERUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDCRUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP//ISA/DSAARUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC//DC-4ARUEAIIA/CIA WASHDCRUEATRS/TREASURY WASHDCRUFHFRG/FRG COLLECTIVERUFHGV/USMISSION GENEVA//NST/ACDARUFHLD/AMEMBASSY LONDONRUFHFR/AMEMBASSY PARISRUFHRO/AMEMBASSY ROMERUDORRA/USNMR SHAPE BE//PAARUFHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA//CSCE/PAARUFHMB/USMISSION USVIENNARUFHNA/USMISSION USNATORUSNNOA/USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECPAO/POLADRHFQAAA/CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//PA/POLADRUFDAAA/CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//AEAPA/POLADRXFMB/US SUPPORT ELEMENT HQ BALTAP//PIO/NATOBTEZ1:

CONTROLSUNCLAS COMPLET 01 OF 07 BONN 25683EZ2:

CIA HAS NO OBJECTION TODECLASSIFICATION AND/ORRELEASE OF CIA INFORMATIONIN THIS DOCUMENT

DEC LASSIFIED AND RE LEASED BYCENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCYS OURCES METHODS EXEMPTION3B2B

NAZI WAR CRIMESDISCLOSUREACTDATE 2001 2007

TEXTUSIAUSIA EU, P/M, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORTFOLLOWING IS A REVIEW OF GERMAN MEDIA OF AUGUST 20, 1987CONTENTS:

I. LEAD STORIESA. SUMMARYB. HEADLINES

TTMOTMCCTVTVT1

UNCLASSIFIED

C. TEXT1. RUDOLF HESS2. FREEWAY TOLLS3. CDU/CSU POLICY DEBATE

II. OTHER NEWS AND COMMENTARYA. RUDOLF HESS (CONT'D)B. DISARMAMENTC. IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIRD. PERSIAN GULFE. CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE PLAN

I. LEAD STORIESA. SUMMARY

LEAD STORIES IN THE WEST GERMAN PRESS, THURSDAY,AUGUST 20: SPECULATIONS ABOUT HESS'S SUICIDE; GERMANFORMAL PROTEST AGAINST BELGIAN FREEWAY TOLLS; AND THECONTINUING CDU/CSU POLICY DEBATE.B. HEADLINES

1. RUDOLF HESS"HESS UNDOUBTEDLY COMMITTED SUICIDE" (RHEINISCHE POST)"HESS LEFT A NOTE" (FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU)2. FREEWAY TOLLS"BONN THREATENS BELGIUM WITH FREEWAY TOLLS"

(GENERAL-ANZEIGER)"WARNKE ANNOUNCES MEASURES OF 'SELF-DEFENSE' AGAINST

FREEWAY TOLLS" (DIE WELT)3. CDU/CSU POLICY DEBATE"NEW ATTACKS ON RITA SUESSMUTH AND NORBERT BLUEM - NO

END IN SIGHT TO THE COALITION CONTROVERSY" (KOELNERSTADT-ANZEIGER)

"THE COALITION DISPUTE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES ISINTENSIFYING" (BONNER RUNDSCHAU)C. TEXT

1. RUDOLF HESSA. PRO-CDU RHEINISCHE POST OF DUESSELDORF (NEWS

REPORT): "IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE AUTOPSY CONDUCTED ONEND OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

***««< SECTION 2 >>»***USIAUSIA EU, P/M, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORTRUDOLF HESS'S BODY, ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE FORMERHITLER DEPUTY COMMITTED SUICIDE. THE LONDON CORONERANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT HESS HAD DIED FROMASPHYXIATION. A NOTE FOUND ON HESS CLEARLY INDICATEDTHAT HE HAD DELIBERATED TAKING HIS OWN LIFE. BEFORE THEANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AUTOPSY RESULTS, HESS'S SON WOLFRUEDIGER DECLARED THAT THE NOTE DID NOT ELIMINATE HISDOUBTS ABOUT HIS FATHER'S SUICIDE....

"SECURITY MEASURES FOR ALLIED INSTALLATIONS WEREINCREASED YESTERDAY BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF THECONSTITUTION SEES A DANGER OF NEO-NAZI ATTACKS...."

"ACCORDING TO ALFRED SEIDL, FORMER BAVARIAN INTERIORMINISTER AND HESS'S LAWYER AT THE NUEREMBERG TRIALS, ITIS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HESS TOOK HIS OWN LIFE IN THE WAY

Timr.r.AqqTri-vn

UNCLASSIFIED

DESCRIBED BY THE ALLIES. SEIDL SAID: 'IT IS IMPOSSIBLEFOR SOMEONE TO KILL HIMSELF WITH AN ELECTRICAL CORD THATIS NOT FASTENED AT BOTH ENDS.' ACCORDING TO SEIDL, THISGIVE RISE TO SUSPICIONS THAT 'SOMEBODY HELPED MATTERSALONG.'..."

B. LEFT-OF-CENTER FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU (NEWSREPORT): "HESS'S SON WOLF RUEDIGER SAID THAT THE YETUNPUBLISHED NOTE MAINLY DEALT WITH MATTERS OF A PRIVATENATURE. ACCORDING TO RUEDIGER, THE NOTE DOES NOTNECESSARILY SERVE AS PROOF THAT HESS ACTUALLY COMMITTEDSUICIDE. HOWEVER, RUEDIGER ALSO SAID THAT 'WE MUSTASSUME THAT MY FATHER WAS DRUGGED AND THEREFORE DID NOTKNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING.'..."

2. FREEWAY TOLLSA. INDEPENDENT GENERAL-ANZEIGER OF BONN (NEWS

REPORT): "IF THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT'S RESOLUTION TOINTRODUCE A FREEWAY TOLL FOR FOREIGNERS GOES INTOEFFECT, THE BONN GOVERNMENT WILL RETALIATE BY ASKINGBELGIAN CAR DRIVERS TO PAY A FREEWAY TOLL IN GERMANY ASWELL. THIS STEP WAS DECIDED IN A RESOLUTION PASSED BYTHE BONN CABINET YESTERDAY. HOWEVER, IN COOPERATION WITHOTHER COUNTRIES TO BE EFFECTED BY THIS MEASURE THE BONNGOVERNMENT FIRST WANTS TO TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE STEP TOINDUCE THE BELGIANS TO TAKE BACK THEIR RESOLUTION....

"ACCORDING TO DIETER SCHULTE, UNDERSECRETARY IN THETRANSPORT MINISTRY, THE BONN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CALL ONTHE EC COUNCIL FIRST TO RAISE THE ISSUE DURING THE NEXTEC COUNCIL SESSION. BONN ALSO WANTS TO ASK THE ECCOMMISSION TO CHECK WHETHER THE BELGIAN RESOLUTIONCORRESPONDS TO EC LAW AND WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TOPROHIBIT THE BELGIANS FROM INTRODUING THE TOLL. IF THESESTEPS DO NOT YIELD ANY SUCCESS, THE BONN GOVERNMENT WILLEXAMINE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ADDITIONAL GERMAN MEASURES.ACCORDING TO SCHULTE, A TOLL WOULD THEN BE IMPOSED ONBELGIAN DRIVERS WHEN TRAVELING ON GERMAN FREEWAYS...."

CONSERVATIVE DIE WELT OF BONN (NEWS REPORT): "IN ANINTERVIEW TRANSPORT MINISTER JUERGEN WARNKE TOLD DIE WELTTHAT THE INTENDED BELGIAN MEASURE CONSTITUTES ANUNPRECEDENTED VIOLATION OF EC RULES. WARNKE SAID: 'AS ARESULT WE WILL MOBILIZE WIDE RESISTANCE AGAINST THISMEASURE. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS LEGAL PROVISION WILL BEKILLED BEFORE THE MEASURE CAN GO INTO EFFECT.' WARNKEALSO SPOKE OF 'LEGAL SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST ANY SUCHDISCRIMINATORY MEASURE.'...."

3. CDU/CSU POLICY DEBATEA. INDEPENDENT KOELNER STADT-ANZEIGER (NEWS

REPORT): "THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT TO THE CONTINUINGCOALITION CONTROVERSY. IN A LETTER CSU SECRETARY GENERALEND OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

***««< SECTION 3 >>»***USIAUSIA EU, P/M, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORT

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GEROLD TANDLER ACCUSED MINISTER OF HEALTH RITA SUESSMUTHOF HAVING HEIGHTENED THE CONTROVERSY AND OF HAVING'EMBARRASSED' THE CHANCELLOR. THE CSU PARTY NEWSPAPERBAYERKURIER CALLED ON LABOR MINISTER BLUEM ALSO TODENOUNCE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN GDR PRISONS DURINGERICH HONECKER'S UPCOMING VISIT TO BONN. IN HIS LETTERTANDLER ALSO WROTE THAT SUESSMUTH HAD ACCUSED FRANZ-JOSEFSTRAUSS ON THE BASIS OF WRONG ALLEGATIONS BY CLAIMINGTHAT STRAUSS HAD MERELY DESCRIBED THE TORTURE OF THE 14CHILEANS AS NOT BEING 'GENTLEMAN-LIKE TREATMENT.'....

"IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE BAYERNKURIER,EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WINFRIED SCHARNAGEL WROTE THAT IT WOULDBE ONLY FAIR THAT LABOR MINISTER NORBERT BLUEMS APPLIESTHE SAME YARDSTICK DURING HONECKER'S UPCOMING VISIT ASDURING HIS TRIP TO CHILE.... ONCE AGAIN THE CSU DECLAREDTHAT NORBERT BLUEM HAD CHOSEN THE WRONG PEOPLE WHENMAKING HIS STAND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BY ACCUSING THE CHILEANGOVERNMENT OF ATROCIOUS CRIMES. ACCORDING TO THE CSU,PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED IN THE GDR FOR ACTIVITES NOT EVEN

PROHIBITITED BY THE CHILEAN GOVERNMENT IN ITS OWNCOUNTRY. IN THIS CONTEXT THE BAYERNKURIER CITED FIVECONCRETE CASES OF ALLEGED TORTURE IN THE GDR AND PRAISEDFRANZ-JOSEF STRAUSS'S 'QUIET' ENGAGEMENT WHICH HAD LED TOTHE RELEASE OF MANY GDR PRISONERS...."

B. PRO-CDU BONNER RUNDSCHAU (NEWS REPORT): "IN ALETTER TO THE NEWSPAPER DIE WELT, CDU DEPUTY ALFONSMUELLER APPEALED TO THE CDU/CSU TO REFRAIN FROM BECOMINGA 'POOL OF CONSERVATIVES FOREVER HOLDING ON TO THEPAST.' ACCORDING TO MUELLER, IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TOPASS A SWEEPING JUDGEMENT ON THE 14 CHILEANS SIMPLYBECAUSE THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE UNDERGROUND ORGANIZATIONMIR. MUELLER SAID THAT IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT MIRDOES NOT CONSIST ONLY OF EXTREMISTS BUT THAT IT HAS ANON-VIOLENT WING AS WELL.... "CONTENTS:II. OTHER NEWS AND COMMENTARYA. RUDOLF HESS (CONT'D)

A. INDEPENDENT/LIBERAL SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG OFMUNICH (EDITORIAL BY JOSEF JOFFE): "RUDOLF HESS'S DEATHRAISES A GENERAL QUESTION: HOW STRONG AND POWERFUL ARETHOSE WHO CAN BE DESCRIBED IN MODERN TERMS AS 'DIE-HARDREACTIONARIES' OR 'UNTEACHABLES'?... AMONG OTHER FIGURESON RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS, STATISTICS PROVE THAT THENATIONALIST PARTY OF GERMANY (NPD) GOT ONLY 0.6 PERCENTOF THE VOTE DURING THE LAST BUNDESTAG ELECTIONS IN 1986.

"THESE FIGURES DISCLOSE A POLITICAL MIRACLE, WHICHHAS WRONGLY BEEN PUT INTO THE SHADE BY THE 'ECONOMICMIRACLE.' WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IN 1945 THAT THEGERMANS, HAVING SPOILT THEIR FIRST DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT,WOULD HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A MODEL COUNTRY IN THEIRSECOND EXPERIMENT A GENERATION LATER. MAYBE THE BONNREPUBLIC SIMPLY WAS IN LUCK: INSTEAD OF REPARATIONS (LIKETHE ONES IN 1919) IT HAD THE MARSHALL PLAN AFTER 1947;INSTEAD OF VERSAILLES IT HAD NATO AND THE EC WHICHOFFERED THE GERMANS SECURITY, EXPORT MARKTS ANDLEGITIMITY....

UNCLASSIFIED

"TODAY 'THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS FOUR TIMES AS HIGH ASIT WAS AT THOSE TIMES. MAYBE IT IS THE PERFECTLYORGANIZED WELFARE STATE WHICH TAKES THE EDGES OFF THEWHEELS OF DIE-HARD REACTIONARIES. BUT MAYBE THEWELL-ORGANIZED LIFE OF GERMANS IS THE REASON FOR THEDEVELOPMENT OF NEO-NAZI PHENOMENONS....

"BUT IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THERE IS NOT THE FERTILEBREEDING GROUND WHICH CAN HELP THE GROWTH OF A MOVEMENTEND OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

***<<<<< SECTION 4 >>»***USIAUSIA EU, P/M, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORTWHERE THE FUEHRER CAN BECOME A CRIMINAL. RUDOLF HESS HASNEVER FELT SORRY ABOUT HIS CRIMES. THE SAME IS TRUE FORHIS FOLLOWERS. MAYBE IT IS A RIGHT TO THE SECONDREPUBLIC THAT ITS HEIRS REMAIN THERE WHERE THEY ARE INSTATISTICS - A TINY MINORITY."

B. CONSERVATIVE FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE (EDITORIAL BYFRIEDRICH KARL FROMME): "THE VICTORIOUS POWERS HAVE NOTONLY ACTED NOT VERY HUMANE, BUT ALSO NOT VERY WISE INRUDOLF HESS'S CASE. WAS IT NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE WESTERNPOWERS.. .TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE SOVIET UNION INTHIS COMPARABLY HARMLESS CASE OF RUDOLF HESS AND RELEASEHIM FROM PRISON') APART FROM THAT, THERE IS THISSTRANGE BRITISH HESITANCE CONCERNING THE PUBLICATION OFTHE HESS FILES AFTER HE FLEW TO ENGLAND IN 1941. WOULDIT BE A SHAME IF THE FILES CONTAINED A PEACE OFFER BYHESS BEING REGARDED AS NOT SUFFICIENT ACCORDING TOBRITON'S AND CHURCHILL'S STANDARDS? SO FAR, FORTUNATELY,HESS'S DEATH IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE DEATH OF A PITIFULOLD MAN WHOSE LIFE EMBRACES HISTORICAL MEMORIES. BUT THEWESTERN POWERS HAVE DONE LITTLE THAT THIS WILL REMAIN SO."

C. LEFT-OF-CENTER FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU (EDITORIALBY RODERICH REIFENRATH): "THOSE PEOPLE WILL USE THESOVIET REJECTION TO RELEASE HESS AS EVIDENCE FOR THEINHUMANITY OF A COMMUNIST SYSTEM. PARTLY OPENLY ANDPARTLY COVERTLY THE MORAL JUDGEMENT ON THIS ATTITUDE WILLBE USED TO OFFSET NAZI ATROCITIES. IT WOULD, HOWEVER, BEGRAVE IF ONCE AGAIN EMBARRASSING DISCUSSIONS DEVELOPEDDISTRACTING ATTENTION FROM CRIMES GERMANS COMMITTEDDURING THE TIMES OF THE 'THIRD EMPIRE.' THE PAST WILLALWAYS BE THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSIES. ONE REASON ISTHAT IT HAS NOT REALLY BEEN DIGESTED. IN SOME RESPECT ITIS TRUE THAT HESS HAD TO PAY DEARLY FOR ALL OTHER WARCRIMINALS. .BUT HE IS NOT THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE CREATIONOF MYTHS GIVEN THE MILLIONS OF SOVIET PEOPLE KILLED IN WWII. HE IS NEITHER THE RIGHT PERSON TO PROVE THAT THESOVIET UNION DISREGARDS HUMAN RIGHTS. THERE IS OTHERCLEARER EVIDENCE...."

D. INDEPENDENT/LIBERAL WEEKLY DIE ZEIT OF HAMBURG(EDITORIAL BY ROBERT LEICHT): THE DEATH OF THIS

UNCLASSIFIED

CRIMINALS WILL NOT BE A RELIEVE FOR US, THE HEIRS OFGERMAN SHAME AND DEFEAT. THIS IS PROVED BY THE JUDGEMENTAGAINST KLAUS BARBIE AND BY THE DEMYANYUK TRIAL INJERUSALEM. THE SHADOWS OF HISTORY CERTAINLY BECOMELONGER, BUT THEY WILL HANG OVER OUR HEADS AS LONG ASMANKIND IS ABLE TO SEE."

E. LIBERAL PROTESTANT WEEKLY DEUTSCHES ALLGEMEINESSONNTAGSBLATT OF HAMBURG (EDITORIAL BY MANFRED REXIN):"IF THE WESTERN POWERS ALONE HAD TO DECIDE ON HESS'S FATETHEY WOULD HAVE RELEASED THE OLD MAN SOME TIME AGO. BUTTHE SOVIET UNION REMAINED ADAMANT....

"THOSE EVENTS WHICH WERE LAUNCHED IN JUNE OF 1941COST THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 20 MILLION SOVIET CITIZENS,AND THOSE WHO WONDER WHY THE KREMLIN REACTED STRICTER ANDMORE MERCILESS THAN U.S. PRESIDENTS AND BRITISH PRIMEMINISTERS SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT THE SOVIET UNION HAD TOSUFFER MORE THAN 30 TIMES AS MANY CASUALTIES AS THE TWOANGLO-SAXON NATIONS."B. DISARMAMENT

A. INDEPENDENT/LIBERAL WEEKLY DIE ZEIT OF HAMBURG(EDITORIAL): "WHO CAN BLAME THE RUSSIANS FOR WANTING TOGET THE MOST OUT OF THE BONN GOVERNMENT'S CONFUSION OVERTHE DOUBLE ZERO SOLUTION.... NOW MOSCOW IS ACTING AS IFGERMAN STUBBORNESS IS THE ONLY REMAINING OBSTACLE TO ABREAKTHROUGH IN THE DISARMAMENT NEGOTIATIONS. HOWEVER,END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

***<<<<< SECTION 5 >>»***USIAUSIA EU, P/M, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORTWHO CAN REALLY TELL? THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL NOT ENTER THEDECISIVE STAGE UNTIL THE FINAL PROBLEMS WILL BE TACKLEDBY U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SHULTZ AND HIS SOVIETCOUNTERPART DURING THEIR SEPTEMBER MEETING. NOT UNTILTHEN WILL WE FIND OUT WHETHER BONN'S 'PERSHINGITIS' WILLACTUALLY BE ONE OF THE REMAINING OBSTACLES TO BE DEALTWITH AND WHETHER A COMPROMISING WESTERN STANCE ON THISISSUE WILL ACTUALLY YIELD THE DESIRED EFFECTS ON THEEASTERN SIDE....

"IN THE END THE GERMAN PERSHINGS WILL PROBABLY NOTTURN THE ZERO SOLUTION INTO A FAILURE. THE BONNCOALITION WOULD BE WELL-ADVISED TO PREPARE ITSELF FORTHIS DEVELOPMENT."

B. LIBERAL PROTESTANT WEEKLY DEUTSCHES ALLGEMEINESSONNTAGSBLATT OF HAMBURG (EDITORIAL BY KARL-HEINZHARENBERG): "HOW MUCH DO THE ZERO SOLUTIONS REALLY MEANIN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING ARMS RACE IN THE SECTOR OFSTRATEGIC WEAPONS?... THE SUPERPOWERS TALK ABOUTDISARMEMT BUT THEY ACT WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASING THEIRWEAPON POTENTIALS.

"THE SOVIET UNION AND THE U.S. ARE CURRENTLY

UNCLASSIFIED

MODERNIZING THEIR ENTIRE STRATEGIC FORCES AND SOMETIMESIT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHERE MODERNIZATION STOPS ANDWHERE THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEGINS....REALITY BELIES THEIR DECLARATIONS OF INTENT.... EVERSINCE THEIR SECOND MEETING IN REYJKAVIK, THE U.S.PRESIDENT AND THE SOVIET PARTY LEADER HAVE WANTED TOREDUCE THEIR STRATEGIC WEAPONS BY 50 PERCENT. HOWEVER,IN BOTH COUNTRIES THE CONCEPT FOR ARMS REDUCTIONS ISBASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE REMAINING 50 PERCENT AREWEAPONS WITH THE LATEST STATE-OF-THE ART TECHNOLOGY,ALLOWING EITHER SIDE TO GAIN A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE OVER THECOMPETITION. FOR YEARS THE STRUGGLE FOR THIS ALLEGEDSLIGHT ADVANTAGE HAS BEEN THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THEARMS BUILD-UP. THIS SITUATION WILL BY NO MEANS BEEFFECTED BY THE DISARMAMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

C. INDEPENDENT/LIBERAL STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG(EDITORIAL): "THE MESSAGE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANYCLEARER. THE U.S. PUBLICLY REMINDED THE BONN GOVERNMENTOF THE FACT THAT IT DOES NOT CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION OVERTHE PERSHINGS TO BE VERY HELPFUL....

"IT IS SURPRISING THAT THE U.S. TOOK THIS LONG TO ASKTHE BONN GOVERNMENT TO STOP COMING FORWARD WITH ITSCONSTANT ADMONITIONS. THIS ISSUE MAY COME IN HANDY TOSOME COALITION POLITICIANS WHO ARE TRYING TO IMPROVETHEIR POSITIONS WITHIN THE PARTY, BUT IT HAS DETRIMENTALEFFECTS ON U.S. NEGOTIATORS IN GENEVA.

"WHILE A MUTUALLY SATISFYING AGREEMENT WAS TAKINGSHAPE IN GENEVA, DOGMATISTS IN BONN HAD NOTHING BETTER TODO THAN TO INSTIGATE A PUBLIC DISPUTE. DID THESEDOGMATISTS EVER CONSIDER THAT THEY WERE ONLY FORCING THEAMERICANS INTO MAKING UNCALLED FOR AND DEMAGING PUBLICSTATEMENTS THEREBY LIMITING THEIR SCOPE OF ACTION IN THENEGOTIATIONS. OR DID DOGMATISTS IN BONN PUBLICLY RAISETHIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE U.S. MAKINGCONCESSIONS THEY WOULD NOT AGREE WITH. IN ANY CASE, THEGERMANS HAVE NOW SUCCEEDED IN ACTUALLY TURNING THE GERMANPERSHINGS INTO AN ISSUE AT THE GENEVA NEGOTIATIONS...."

D. PRO-SPD WESTFAELISCHE RUNDSCHAU OF DORTMUND(EDITORIAL BY JUERGEN KELLERMEIER): "NATURALLY THE U.S.ADMINISTRATION MUST EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT IT WILLSTRICTLY ADHERE TO THE JOINT WESTERN POSITION AND THAT ITWILL NOT EXERT ANY PRESSURE ON BONN. EVEN THE HINT OF ASUSPICION THAT THE ALLIES WOULD BE PUT UNDER PRESSURE INEND OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

***««< SECTION 6 >>>>***USIAUSIA EU, P/N, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORTORDER TO ACHIEVE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOVIETS WOULDGREATLY IMPEDE THE CHANCES FOR A RATIFICATIN OF THETREATY. HOWEVER, BONN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND

UNCLASSIFIED

THE AMERICANS. THE GENEVA NEGOTIATIONS HAVE CULMINATEDIN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE BONN GOVERNMENT WILLPREVENT THE SUPERPOWERS' DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT BYINSISTING ON THE PERSHINGS."C. IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR

A. INDEPENDENT/LIBERAL WEEKLY DIE ZEIT OF HAMBURG(EDITORIAL BY DIETER BUHL): "THE SCRIPT DOES NOT PROMISERONALD REAGAN A GLORIOUS PART IN THE FINAL SCENE. THETIMES WHEN REAGAN WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE AMERICAN PEOPLEIN DIRECT SUPPORT OF HIS POLICIES ARE FINALLY OVER. THEBAN HAS BEEN BROKEN BECAUSE MORE AND MORE AMERICANS AREREALIZING THAT REAGAN'S CLAIMS ARE A FAR CRY FROMREALITY.... REAGAN'S HERITAGE IS STARTING TO BE ABURDEN, AND THE EUPHORIC FEELINGS HE KINDLED ARE NOWTURNING INTO FEELINGS OF SELF-PITY. IN THIS SITUATIONTHE PRESSURED PRESIDENT IS CONFRONTED WITH A STRONGERCONGRESS. THIS CONSTELLATION WILL PROBABLY BE WELCOMEDBY ALL THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE ALWAYS LIKED TO SEE FOREIGNPOLICY DETERMINED BY SOMEBODY ELSE THAN REAGAN. HOWEVER,IT IS STILL QUESTIONABLE WHETHER THE ARMY OFSELF-APPOINTED SECURITY EXPERTS ON CAPITOL HILL WILL BEABLE TO DEMONSTRATE MORE WISDOM IN MATTERS OF WORLDPOLITICS.

"U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN THE PERSIAN GULF IS NEITHER BASEDON,SUFFICIENT MILITARY LOGISTICS NOR ON A POLITICALCONCEPT. IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT CONGRESS REMAINSSUSPICIOUS....

"WASHINGTON'S HESITATION IS ALSO CASTING A SHADOW ONPROSPECTS FOR A REDUCTION OF TENSIONS IN CENTRALAMERICA. THE DELICATE AGREEMENT IN THE CENTRAL AMERICANREGION REQUIRES QUICK AND DECISIVE ACTION ON BEHALF OFTHE AMERICANS. ONLY IF THEY SUPPORT REGIONAL EFFORTS FORPEACE IN THE AREA WILL PEACE BE RESTORED IN AMERICA'SBACKYARD.

"FURTHERMORE, WASHINGTON DOES NOT HAVE A JOINTPOSITION ON THE MOST IMPORTANT FOREIGN POLICY TASK OFFINALLY ACHIEVING A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DISARMAMENTNEGOTIATIONS. THE PRESIDENT NEEDS A SUCCESS IN ORDER TOGO DOWN IN HISTORY, BUT HE CAN ONLY ACHIEVE THIS WITH THEBACKING FROM CONGRESS. FOR THE TIME BEING IT IS STILLNOT CERTAIN WHETHER THE EXPECTED DISARMAMENT AGREEMENTSWILL FIND APPROVAL IN CONGRESS...."

B. CSU WEEKLY BAYERNKURIER (EDITORIAL BY EMILMUEHLBERGER): "IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT REAGAN CLEARLYEXPRESSED HIS DESIRE TO COOPERATE MORE CLOSELY WITHCONGRESS FROM NOW ON THAN THAT HE ADMITTED TO HAVING MADEMISTAKES IN THE IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR.... THE PRESIDENT WASRIGHT IN FOCUSING ON HIS FUTURE POLITICAL TASKS IN HIS TVADDRESS...."D. PERSIAN GULF

LIBERAL PROTESTANT WEEKLY DEUTSCHES ALLGEMEINESSONNTAGSBLATT OF HAMBURG (EDITORIAL BY JUERGEN KRAMER):"IN SHORT THIS IS WHAT THE U.S. THINKS OF BONN IN MATTERS

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CONCERNING THE GULF REGION: THE U.S. IS PISSED OFF THATTHE BONN GOVERNMENT ALWAYS POINTS TO THE BASIC LAW WHENTHE U.S. AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS ASK BONN TO SHOULDER ALITTLE BIT OF MILITARY RESPONSIBILITY IN EFFORTS TO BRINGPEACE TO THE GULF REGION.

"BUT ANYWAY, THIS BASIC LAW WAS ESTABLISHED IN THEEND OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

***««< SECTION 7 >>»***USIAUSIA EU, P/M, P/RM, P/FW, P/FN, P/R P/RWE, VOA/PE,P/P,MBFR - STATE EUR/CE;EUR:P;PM;INR/RWEE.O. 12356: N/ASUBJECT: GERMAN MEDIA REACTION REPORTFRG AT THE INSTIGATION OF THE U.S. PARTICULARLY WITHREFERENCE TO MILITARY ABSTINENCE. THE ALLIES THUS HAVETO LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT THE GERMANS WILL ALWAYS RESORTTO BASIC LAW AS THEIR PROTECTIVE SHIELD.... AS OFTENBEFORE DURING A CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST THE FRGGOVERNMENT ALSO HOPES TO GAIN TIME THIS TIME....

"AFTER THE FRENCH AND BRITISH DECISIONS TO SENDMINESWEEPERS TO THE GULF...THE BONN GOVERNMENT WILL BEPRESSURED BY THE U.S. TO MAKE ITS MILITARYCONTRIBUTION.... THE BONN GOVERNMENT CANNOT HELP BUTSHOW ITS FLAG AS WELL....

"IT IS LIKELY THAT THE FRG GOVERNMENT WILL SEND SOMESHIPS TO THE ATLANTIC TO APPEASE RONALD REAGAN, BUT SUCHA MOVE WILL BE OF NO MILITARY VALUE. BUT IN THIS CASETHE BONN GOVERNMENT COULD ONCE AGAIN SAY THAT IT IS ARELIABLE ALLIANCE PARTNER OF THE U.S. AND THAT IT HAS NOTREJECTED SOLIDARITY IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY. IT IS LIKELYTHAT THE BONN GOVERNMENT WOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT SUCH ADEVELOPMENT, FOR APART FROM FRANCE AND BRITAIN, ITALY ANDTHE NETHERLANDS HAVE SHOWED THEIR REVERENCE TO THE WHITEHOUSE....

"THE DANGER CANNOT BE DENIED THAT THIS COURSE AIMINGAT GAINING TIME AND RELIEF AND NOT AT EXCHANGINGARGUMENTS WITH THE U.S. HAS TO BE ABANDONED IN THE NEARFUTURE. THE BONN GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO PAY A HIGHERAPPEASEMENT PRICE THAN EXPECTED FOR ITS ABSTENTION IN THEGULF IF THE CONFLICT CONTINUES OR EVEN ESCALATES. THISPOLICY OF TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT COULD HAVE DETRIMENTALCONSEQUENCES FOR THE FRG...."E. CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE PLAN

A. CONSERVATIVE DIE WELT OF BONN (NEWS REPORT WITHCOMMENT BY FRITZ WIRTH): "RESISTANCE IS GROWING INREPUBLICAN RANKS AGAINST THE PEACE PLAN FOR NICARAGUASIGNED IN GUATEMALA CITY TWO WEEKS AGO.... OVERALL ITSEEMS THAT IN VIEW OF THE PRESSURE FROM REPUBLICAN RANKSTHE WHITE HOUSE IS FURTHER DISTANCING ITSELF FROM THISPLAN WHILE FOCUSING BACK ON THE U.S. INITIATIVE SUBMITTEDONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE GUATEMALA PLAN...."

UNCLASSIFIED

B. PRO-CDU RHEINISCHE POST OF DUESSELDORF (NEWSREPORT WITH COMMENT BY GUENTER DE THIER): "CENTRALAMERICA WILL BECOME THE TEST DETERMINING WHETHER REAGANIS STILL ABLE TO ASSERT HIS OWN POLITICAL IDEAS....REAGAN'S OWN CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE PLAN WAS ATTACKED BYTHE RIGHT-WING AND THE LEFT-WING. THE DELICATE BASIS OFA BI-PARTISAN POLICY IS ALREADY SHAKEN AGAIN WHENDEMOCRATIC SPOKESMAN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESEXPRESSES HIS CONCERN THAT FURTHER ARMS SUPPLIES TO THECONTRAS COULD UNDERMINE THE PEACE PROCESS. IT WILL BEDIFFICULT FOR REAGAN TO PLAY THE ROLE OF PEACEMAKER INCENTRAL AMERICA...." CATHERMANEND OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED

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