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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MARCH 11, 1983
PAGE 10
The fact that according to one poll 88% of voters made their
choice on economic grounds really reinforces the point [that] the
Germans are comfortable enough with their NATO responsibilities
to think of jobs and pocketbooks first•...
The campaign also proved that Yuri Andropov isn't the sophis
ticated strategist he's been cracked up to be.... Mr. Andropov
blew the election. He encouraged Mr. Vogel to move so far toward
Moscow on Euromissile policy that the SPD lost credibility with
voters. Mr. Andropov's nuclear carrots also tempted Mr. Vogel to
underplay the crucial economic issue.
Then, for some reason, Mr. Andropov cut the ground from under Mr.
Vogel by switching tactics, deemphasizing carrots and taking up
sticks--or, rather, sledgehammers. It wasn't fully reported in
the U.S., but Soviet threats against the Germans were crudely
brutal. One Novosti article said that "blind faith" in the U.S.
� Mr. Kofir-would lead Germany to
11
the nuclear gallows1".:-:-:-
It's unlikely that Mr. Andropov has learned any lesson.
The
Soviets are still berating Germany. Mr. Andropov fired the Krem
lin's No. 1 German expert, Valentin Fallin.... The Soviet Union
well may resort to more threats and encourage German street vio
lence to block deployment in December•..•
Another example of Soviet bluntness--as opposed to the more sophisticated
French and American campaign involvement--was the remark by Foreign Minis�
ter Gromyko that West Germans had to make the choice of living "in a peace
ful house" or of "serving the purposes of U.S. war doctrine." Tongue-in
cheek, the NATIONAL REVIEW of March 18, 1983 editorialized that "it must be
said on behalf of the Soviets that they are not accustomed to running elec
tions, and thus miss the subtleties."
Doing Battle with the "Greens"
Nevertheless, Chancellor Kohl will have his hands full the remainder of
1983, especially through what could be a "long hot summer." The following
are excerpts from a March 8 WALL STREET JOURNAL article written by Gordon
Crovitz, editorial page editor of the JOURNAL'S new European edition. It
says quite a bit about the "generation gap" in West Germany.
Reduced anxiety among the allies about continued German partici
pation in NATO defense planning may be premature:
There are
si
1
ns . that the . public opinion battle in Germany� �-west
re at1orisnas Just begun.•..
Before the election, Mr. Vogel knew his only way to chancellor
ship was through the support of the Greens. This group, whose
members are anti-American, anti-nuclear, anti-business and even
anti-cable TV, cheered as the Soviets gave their stamp of approv
al to Mr. Vogel when he visited Moscow and met privately with Mr.
Andropov for a couple of hours to chat about missiles.
But the hosannas Mr. Vogel earned from the Greens won't always
come so easily. The Greens have read Mr. Vogel the riot act,
telling him that he can count on their continued support only if