Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

0NtWNHYs
asked Germany to join in an
effort to give the Continent in
effect a veto on American Eu-
ropean policy. The idea was TO
accept intermediate range ball
listic missiles only ON condition
that NATO be given a strong
political council that would fix
q Joint foreign policy for all
members.
Germany toyed with the idea
which eventually collapsed
when France turned out to be
more interested In Algeria than
Germany thought proper. Italy
tried to promote its own stand
ING among Arab countries and
other members turned up with
separate. irrelevant axes to
grind.
Herr Adenauer, with a new
post ELECTION set OF intimate
advisers around him-men in
the nationalist campaigning a
strong public interest in the
new Communist offers and pub
lie dislike Of IRBMs and hear
ing reports Of American wayer-
ing. decided Paris was the time
to show q little independence.
Adenauer Acclaimed
It turned out to be very little.
He merely asked that the IRBM
talk be dropped until the Mill
tary experts had had time TO
figure out where they should be
installed. and he said he would
see no objection to attempting
70 inquire through diplomatic
channels from the Soviet gov
eminent what precise concep-
tons form the basis Of their
proposals"
Other countries. France and
Britain In particular. went
much farther in urging inde-
pendent views. but the world
was used to that. II was only
Adenauer. the rock, who at
tracted interest.
The meeting ended In agree
ment in principle on IRBMs for
Europe and with an American
concession Of an offer Of o
meeting Of foreign ministers.
representing NATO. and the
Soviet foreign minister 70 ex-
plore the latest Russian moves.
II was Britain first and then
France which proposed this
meeting. not Germany.
But Mr.. Adenauer went home
70 ind he was a hero. The nom
party press hailed him as the
new emancipation. the architect
Of an independent foreign poll
icy. the logical man to meet
with the Russians and tell them
thing or two.
The Chancellor loved 10.
But as the new year opened
Mr.. Adenauer had to decide
what to do with his new fi>lg
at independence. He found two
things.
First. the Russian offers. on
close study. had nothing to
offer Germany but danger.
Second. American and Euro
pean talk about German neu-
tralism was damaging the
reputation for soundness and
reliability the Chancellor had
so carefully built up after the
dark days OF Hitler.
U. 3. Not Worried
The Chancellor told his ad-
visers to be more realistic in
their talk about an independ-
ent German path. He then
went on the German radio
(January 49, with q foreign
policy commentary that sound
ed exactly Like the Adenauer
rock Of old.
He has prepared an answer
to the first Bulganin note. and
the answer Is expected to sound
Just like President Eisen-
hower's. He scheduled q foreign
policy debate In the German
Parliament for the end Of this
week 70 explain in detail why
his old policy or solidarity with
NATO Is the best and only pos
sible one.
The new nationalism In his
party. the press and the public
Is not dead however. There will
be more talk Of an independent
German policy. Chancellor Ad-
enauer himself believes IL will
be possible TO take the iniative
occasionally in Western coun-
els and even in talks with
Russia.
But neither he nor the new
nationalist show any sign now
Of taking a course which would
be critized by Western leaders.
The American Embassy here
views the new nationalisrn
calmly, thinks 1t is inevitable
and a good thing.
1t isn't neutralism.
Tomorrow: What the Germans won't.