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PAGE 14
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 17, 1984
But the East Germans, normally most subservient to orders from
Moscow, are pressing ahead with their Western contacts, testing
the limits of Soviet ire or exploiting a division in the Krem
lin's constantly moribund inner circle. The Soviet leaders sus
pect that the East and West Germans are plotting "revanchism"--a
movement to restore the old German borders and take back areas
that the Russians chopped off after World War II.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, the State and Commerce Departments
are trying to get a grip on The German Problem: the near-billion
dollar credits extended by West Germany to the Communist regime
in the east, and the trans-shipment of the most sophisticated
American technology to East Germany.
Two years ago, while the State Department was caving in to Euro
pean demands that U.S. equipment be used in the Soviet-European
gas pipeline, America was assured that West Germans would guard
against the transfer of U.S. industrial secrets to the Communist
bloc. But it turns out that Secretary George Shultz was snook
ered; the West Germans � now preparing laws � forbid their
companies from going along with U.S. export restrictions. Thus,
West Germany sticks its thumb in the eye of the Western super
power•.•while East Germany apparently sticks its thumb in the eye
of the Eastern superpower.•••
Why are these events taking place at the same time? The answer
should be obvious: 40 years after the war, two generations after
the division of the Third Reich by the victorious allies, German
leaders of East and West are beginning to put on the pressure to
reunite their country. Nobody wants to admit this, of course.
Germans talk only of "ultimate" reunification in some happy time
of universal peace, because they know that the very prospect of
one Germany soon erodes their credibility as allies to opposing
sides.
The Russians, if this goes too far, will crack down on East Ger
many as they did on Poland; 20 Russian divisions are present on
East German soil. The Americans, if Chancellor Helmut Kohl con
tinues to finance�d technologically bolster the Communist
regime, will react .QY e assing the Nunn amendment,� the with
drawal of U.S. forces will begin. [The legislation . introduced by
Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia nearly passed the Senate in June.]
That is why East Germans are talking to Moscow merely of detente,
which is occasionally in favor, and why West Germans talk to
America of the virtues of trade and human communication, which
Americans are usually for. Their game is to begin the reunifica
tion process without� calling it that.
German nationalism seems to mean more to Mr. Honecker than con
tinued subservience to Moscow, and more to Mr. Kohl than the pre
sent generation's method of defending Western Europe. � decade
from�� will learn of the secret negotiations in these y � ars
that took place between Germans�� Fatherland ahead of ide
oI'ogy . It should not be a surprise; it is only natural.