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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, DECEMBER 2, 1983
articles led me to such an in-depth study that it took over four
hours to study the material in each one. By the way, it was a
very thrilling study!
Thanks once again and keep up the good work! There is a desperate
need for true knowledge of this kind all over the world.
ON THE WORLD SCENE
R.G. (Marshfield, MO)
--Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
SPECIAL REPORT, PART I: A NEW ERA BEGINS IN EUROPE;
THE "GERMAN QUESTION" EMERGES ONCE AGAIN
The last quarter of 1983 is turning out to be an historic milestone in the
post-World War II politics of Europe. The nations of Western Europe are
passing from one era into another. Fading away is Era Number One: The
acceptance on the part of Europeans of America's leading role in military
matters in the NATO alliance. Era Number 'Two is beginning, albeit on a
political downslide, with doubts in Germany about NATO and fears about
Germany's future role in Europe on the part of her neighbors. This present
ly confusing new era will conclude with the powers of Europe "getting their
act together" in a final united effort to try to preserve Western civiliza
tion.
The catalyst for this change is the beginning implementation of the Decem
ber, 1979 NATO decision to deploy new American-made intermediate-range
nuclear missiles in Europe. The Europeans, specifically the West Germans
and even more specifically then Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, asked for the
new weapons to counter the rapid build-up of Soviet SS-20 missiles targeted
on German and other European sites. He felt the new NATO weapons stationed
on European soil would further "couple" America's
strategic (intercon
tinental) arsenal to the defense of Europe. The Chancellor saw the new
missiles as renewed evidence of a U.s. commitment to resort to nuclear
weapons, if necessary, in the defense of Western Europe.
What seemed to be a good idea has backfired, in the eyes of many. Instead
of cementing both sides of the Atlantic alliance together, the new missiles
are proving to be highly divisive. This is especially true in West Germany.
The Social Democratic Party (Mr. Schmidt's) now overwhelmingly rejects the
deployment. Its supporters fear that the Pershing !Is and cruise missiles
only guarantee that in any war, Germany is certain to be destroyed in a
nuclear heap. Especially troubling, in their view, is that the Pershing
!Is and cruise missiles, though positioned on West German soil, remain
under the sole authority of the U.S. President.
Even supporters on the right believe that Germany must exert more control
over its own destiny. Franz Josef Strauss (who may soon be in the Bonn
parliament if Economics Minister Lambsdorff resigns over a current scandal)
has publicly stated his desire that Germany should have a "second key" on
the firing of the new weapons. This doesn't make Moscow happy.
The French are also deeply concerned over the deepening split in the
Federal Republic over the missile issue. The ever-wary French detect signs
of Germany distancing itself from NATO and America, possibly sliding into