Evening star., 1961-07-18

-memoire of June 4, 1861, on
the German problem, nor an!
real tranquility in Central Eu'
rope, until the German people
are reunited in peace anC
freedom on the basis Of thI
universally recognized principle
Of self-determination.
It is because Of this convic.
ton that the United Statel
Government, with its allies, hai
Nrepeatedly proposed solutions
for the German problem baseC
on these principles-unfortun
ately without evoking a positive
response from the Soviet gov
eminent.
Thus, they proposed to tn,
Soviet government on May IA
1859. the Western peace plan
which was acclaimed through.
out the world as q constructive
offer. The detailed proposals ir
this peace plan were intended
as a practical step-by-step ap.
proach to the problem Of {
Central European settlement
based on the principle Of self.
determination, to which thu
Soviet government processes K
adhere, but which is conspicu.
GUS by its absence in Soviet
proposals.
Change for the Better
The Soviet aide-memoire
argues that the time has al
ready passed when the situation
in Germany could be left un-
changed. The United State,
Government is persuaded that
% change for the better is to be
desired. But at the same time
1t is certain that world opinion
has noted that in the decade
between the end Of the Soviet
blockade Of Berlin and the re-
newed threat to Berlin in the
Soviet note Of November ~
1858, the German problem die
not disturb world peace.
And just as the world could
not fail to note who was re-
sponsible for disturbing the
peace on those two occasions
1t will surely condemn any at
tempt by any one Of the four
powers to change the existing
situation In West Berlin against
the win Of the other three and
against the overwhelming de-
sire OF the vast majority Of the
people Of Berlin and Germany
who are most directly con-
cerned.
To justify the action it wishes
to take, the government of the
USSR alleges that without a
peace treaty there is danger Of
confederation in Europe. The
United States Government does
not consider that this argu-
ment has any merit. Minor in
cldents which occur from time
to time in the present situation
are settled through exercise of
those quadripartite response
bilities which, in themselves.
constitute the most effective
protection against any local
aggravation Of the situation
into a real threat to
the peace.
West Achieves Aims
Contrary to the unfounded
assertion in the Soviet aid
memoire, the Western powers
vigorously carried out the pro-
grams to eradicate Nazi mill
tarism, to eliminate vestiges of
the Third Reich, to prevent the
rebirth Of aggressive forces,
ana to chart a course by which
Germany could recover its re-
Spect and play a constructive
role in international affairs.
The Federal Republic Of Ger
many is the proof Of the sue
cessful achievement of these
aims by the West.
The Federal Republics for.
eign and military policies accept
significant restraints. It has
undertaken not to manufac-
ture atomic, chemical and BIZ
illogical weapons, and has ac-
cepted international control to
insure that this undertaking is
honored. All Of the Federal
Republics combat forces are
completely integrated d into
which has only defen-
Sive-not aggreSSive-aimS. The
Federal Republic does not seek.