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has always made the Western a l–
liance tremble: a menacing new ver–
sion of the 1922 Rapallo Soviet–
German treaty. Another Rapallo is
certainly no possibility in the near
future. lndeed. it is unthinkable in
Helmut Schmidt's Germany.
"Nevertheless, what is clearly a t
issue in the Brezhnev-Bahr talks is
chilling, even though no immediate
threa t: West G ermany leav ing
NATO with Soviet g u a r an t ees
against aggression and with the ulti–
ma te prospect o f Germa n reunifica–
!
ion. Ba hr, a fanatica l German
nationalist. leads SPD's far-left fac–
tion which believes the key to Ger–
many's future reunification is held
in Moscow, not Washington."
Bahr has emphalically denied do–
ing more than seriously thinking
a bout West Germany leaving the
Atlantic alliance. (A defector from
Communist Romanía charged in
September that Bahr actually had
drafted a plan for such action.) Bahr
adds that in the present ci rcum–
stances West Germany would be
foolish to pursue an independent
course.
The United States government
has been very concerned about even
the inkling of a change in Bonn's
foreign po licy toward Moscow. Pres–
iden! Carter's National Security Ad–
viser Zbigniew Brzezinski has gone
so far as to wa rn Bonn against pur–
suing a policy of what he called
"self-Finlandization." This term
presumably means the willingness
of Bonn to submit every foreign pol–
icy move to Moscow for prior approval.
"Amicable Partner" of Soviets:
Strauss
Thoughts about increased coopera–
tion with the Soviets are no t limited
to Germany's Socialist far left. Even
Fra nz-Josef Strauss, the powerful
leader of the Bavarian wing o f the
political opposit ion-and an avowed
anti-Communist-has spoken sorne
very remarkable words about Ger–
man-Soviet relations in the future.
When Leonid Brezhnev visited
Bonn in May he had a 45-minute
conversation with Herr Strauss (as
he also did with Christian Demo–
cratic Union opposition leader Hel–
mut Kohl).
20
What struck repo rt ers at Gym–
nich Castle outside Bonn. Brezh–
nev's guest resid e nce. was the
unusual cordiality between Brezh–
nev and Strauss, whom the Soviet
press has hamme red unceasingly for
nearly twenty yea rs. Bul what really
raised eyebrows was th at Brezhnev,
visibly ailing, accompanied Strauss
to his car parked 150 feet away and
told him.
"1
thank you for the open
and amica ble conversation." Strauss
returned th e thanks.
What had lhese two powerful
leaders discussed? Herr Strauss told
reporters he to ld lhe Soviet chief
that while it was nol his or Ger–
many's goal to turn the defeat of the
Second World War into victory,
"nobody can demand of us lo be–
lieve in two German nations."
Later. in a speech
10
the Bun–
destag (Wes t Germa ny's parli a–
ment), touching on his conversation
with Brezhnev. Strauss rei terated
that " there is only one Ge rman na–
tion." If only the Soviets, he said,
would alter their a ltitudes and pol–
icies toward Ge rmany. Germany
would respond in like manner.
Regarding re unification of the
two German states, Strauss held out
to Moscow the benefits which it
could expect from finally permitting
such a union. "A justly treated free
German nation." he said, "will be a
grateful , amicable partner."
Then Slra uss rema rked , in words
packed with impon : "When Rus–
sians and Germans stood against
one another, permitted themselves
to get involved in wars against each
other. or started wars. it was a tre–
mendous disaster for both peoples.
And when the contrary condition
existed, it was fortunate for both
peoples. And, if to thi s condition
would be added genuine partner–
ship and just mutua l recognition of
the national rights o f existence,
a
true spring would break forth in Eu–
rope and in the world. "
Not Germany Alone
There is no doubt that Germany is
firmly committed to its relatíonship
with íts West European partners.
Bonn has been squa re ly in the fore–
front in elforts toward a united Eu–
rope. The Federal Republic is the
very heart a nd core of the Common
Market. Germa ny (a long with
France) is the leading advocate of
establishing a powerful new mone–
tary union fo r Wes tern Europe.
All of this will not be abandoned
should Bonn decide to open its op–
tions to the East. What
is
likely to
happen is tha t all of Western Eu–
rope- eventually a unified Europe–
will move with Germany in an eas t–
erly direction, as rapidly as rela–
tíons with Ame rica deterio ra te.
Mo re tha n a ny o ther factor-even
inte n e pressure from Moscow- it
will be West Europe 's declining
trust in Washington's reliability tha t
will de termine the shape and speed
of changes to come in Europe.
End-Time Alignment of Nations
An e ntire ly new internationa l a rder
is on the brink of reality. And when
it matures, the e nd of ma n 's 6.000
years of rule apart from God will be
a lmost over. The dawning of the
Kingdom o f God-which will usher
in wo rld peace- will be just over the
horizon.
In As ia , what is emerging. it
would a ppear, is a powerful axis
between China and Japan, possibly
including lndia-an awesome eco–
nomic and military aUi ance, from
which could arise. according to
Bible prophecy. an incredible a rmy
of200 million people! (Rev. 9: 16.)
In Europe, a ten-nation Europea n
bloc (Rev. 17:12-13). with Germa ny
(very possibly a
united
Germa ny)
playing a key role, might be com–
pelled to make temporary peace
with Soviet Russia befare the two
blocs, East and West. have a nuclear
falling-out.
And the United States?
It
will
have a lready, by that time, sulfered
calamitous na tional destruction!
How do the editors of
The Plain
Truth
know? Write for our key
prophetic booklet ,
The Book of
Revelation Unveiled at Las/,
and
find out!
And be sure to read Mr. Arm–
strong's "The United States and
Britain in Prophecy," now being
seri a lized in
The Plain Truth.
You
can
know what the future
ho lds- and how to escape the peril–
ous days ahead.
o
The
PLAIN TRUTH December 1978