Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 33
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN. K DIGEST OF RECENT COMMENT March 25, 1974 HAK/EUROPE/USSR Sun leads w/ 1 of 3 p. 1 stories on HAK beside HAK/Gromyko photo: "German Initiative Backed, 11 w/ subhead, "HAK Supports Move on Consultation. 11 CBS AM's Sheahan w/ film report of HAK's stop in Bonn for what was clearly a "peace conf. 11 w/ Scheel, noted both men spoke in conciliatory terms but Scheel wouldn't declare Bonn would be mediator in disputes w/ France. HAK left the impression he'd avoid France this trip but would stop in London as part of his "continu- ing effort to outflank Paris, " said Sheahan. LA Times' Morris notes it was "my friend Walter" and "Henry. 11 Warmth and informality on both sides reflected efforts to get US-Eur relations onto a better plane. "To HAK's pleasure and surprise, 11 Brandt attended talks. Correction: HAK hilite in Mon. Summary should read: Earlier, in talks w/ Scheel and Brandt, HAK discussed ways to strengthen US- Europe relations w/ CBS noting that tho Atlantic Alliance relationships are troubled at the moment, HAK's rapport w/ W. German leaders isn't as Scheel's 9-yr. -old accompanied HAK children on sightseeing. NBC's Kaplan w/ Today Byline said Europeans knew they were involved in "quarrel" w/ US, but til recently they didn't know it was of proportions momentous enough for RN's warning. Eur. papers talk of the ultimatum and ask what it's about. Most don't believe differences are grave enough to have caused RN's "apocalyptic" warning, said Kaplan, noting differences are "far from new. 11 Even "fresh tensions" caused by M-E and embargo aren't considered serious enough to en- danger basis of alliance -- unless Admin is setting out to make it so. There are some who take that view and blame HAK, who in a few short weeks has "lost the title of Europe's favorite American. 11 Some believe HAK sees Eur. unity as a threat to US policies, and time is right to create disunity because of anti-EEC govt now in GB. Thus, the scenario goes, HAK picked a fight -- or made one more explosive -- w/ France. When Europeans have to choose between Paris or DC, some will choose DC and that'll be the end of EEC. While it's hardly surprising this Machiavellian theory started in France, said Kaplan,