Evening star., 1961-07-18

70 lLS IeglClmaCe Qe1enSe re-
quirementS entirely within the
NATO framework. In addition
the Federal Government has
publicly stated that the Federal
Republic does not contemplate
the use Of force to achieve re-
unification or to alter existing
boundaries. It has also con-
sistently taken significant steps
to integrate itself peacefully
and firmly into the Western
European community - steps
which would never be taken by
a government bent on a mill
tarist course.
After the end Of World WaI
II. the United States and It's
Western allies demobiIized their
military forces in the expecta-
ton Of q peaceful world order
However, postwar Soviet poll
cies compelled the organization
Of the military defense Of the
North Atlantic Treaty area.
Without the armed threat to
Western Europe. the purely de-
fenSive alliance to which the
United States is fully COM
mitted, and in which the Fed
eral Republic participates,
might well never have devel-
oped. The pursuit by the USSR
Of its uni1ateral objectives in
Eastern Europe convinced the
present members Of NATO that
Soviet power would be extended
into any area westward which
did not have the ability to de-
fend itself. Should the USSR
make unilateral moves in its
Germany policy, contrary to
binding international agree
ments. the NATO countries
could only interpret such moves
as a purposeful threat to their
national interests.
Soviet Endangers World
The Soviet government, ir
its aide-memoire, is presenting
the Western powers with 9
demand that they accept its
solution Of the German prob
lem. Despite the protestations
Of the Soviet government that
it does not intend to harm the
interests Of the United States
or other Western powers in
Europe, it remains the firm
conviction Of the Western
powers that the end result of
the Soviet proposals would
harm not only their interests,
but also those Of the German
people, and - since they en-
danger the peace - those Of
the entire world.
The counterpart Of the So
Wet position is that unless the
Western powers accept its Ger
man solution, the Soviet gov
ernment will try to obtain what
it wants by unilateral action.
The Soviet government thus
threatens to violate its solemn
international obligations, to de-
termine unilaterally the fate
Of millions Of Germans with
out their consent, and to use
force against its World War II
allies If they do not voluntarily
surrender their rights and vital
positions. The Soviet govern
ment must understand that
such q course Of action is not
only unacceptable, but is a
more serious menace to world
peace, for which 1t bears full
responsibility before all man
kind.
World War II Agreement
At the end Of World War II,
the victorious powers entered
into a number Of agreements
to settle the German problem,
based on the principle that
questions concerning Germany
as q whole were q matter for
joint action by the victorious
powers. A peace settlement
with Germany is foremost
among those questions. The
PotSdam Agreement of 1945,
for instance. refers to "the
preparation of q peace settle
ment for Germany to be ac-
cepted by the government of
Germany when a government
adequate for the purpose is es-
tabliShed."
Under international law, the
Soviet Government cannot ig-
more these agreements in order
to conclude unilateral arrange
ments with q part Of Germany;
nor would such action invali-