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SECRET 7 for a unified nation. More recently, the Na- would consist in these parties making clear tional Front organization of the East German their positions with respect to German unity. Republic has been making contact with West The Free Youth rally of the East German German politicians and organizations who re- Communists in Berlin on 28 May will be an gard the uniting of the two Germanies as indication of the attraction which unity un- essential in order to restore German influ- der Communist leadership holds for Germans ence in Europe. This desire, as yet unorgan- under Western control. At a mass demon- ized in a coordinated movement, has recently stration the East Germans hope to win visible been gaining ground in West Germany in a support for their form of German unification variety of circles. from the people of West Berlin. The East The weak condition of the West German Germans and their Soviet sponsors are count- economy has accelerated public demands for ing on the deteriorating economic conditions of the West Berlin workers to weaken their some political action that may ease the serious unemployment situation. Many industrial- allegiance to Western ideals. West Berliners have had their confidence in the US shaken ists and businessmen in the Federal Republic are increasingly inclined to look towards the by the drop in West German trade resulting from the Soviets' continued interference with East for raw materials and markets. The pressure for the lifting of the Federal Repub- barge and truck traffic. Although the Ade- lic's embargo on steel deliveries to the East nauer government has subsidized the Berlin Germans has clearly revealed this attitude. economy for some time under US prodding, it In contemplating the termination of the ERP will now have a more important reason for two years hence, West German industrialists doing so. However, as long as the USSR-ap- believe that their future economic stability parently confident at this time that West Ger- can best be achieved through a revival of their many will ultimately join the Eastern camp- insists on unification under Communist direc- former trade ties with Eastern Europe. A unified nation would, in their view, accom- tion, there will remain substantial resistance in the Bonn Republic to the acceptance of any plish this aim. such terms. Increasing cohesion can be anticipated among the rightist-nationalist groups that 8. Consequences of British Election. have been advocating unification under vari- Although the security of the US will not be ous terms. In addition, organizations of in- directly affected by the stalemate resulting tellectuals advocating neutralization of a from the British general election, the out- united Germany in the East-West struggle come is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of have been gaining strength. Many of the na- both the UK and the US. The period of politi- tionalist groups, despite their anti-Communist cal maneuvering which preceded the election orientation, would not be averse in principle and which hindered decisive action at home to coming to an understanding with the USSR and abroad is likely to continue; one or more or the East German Republic if they felt they general elections may be required before Brit- would strengthen their own power in a united ain obtains a government with an adequate Germany. There is some danger that such parliamentary majority. No change in for- irresponsible groups may be able to enlist the eign or defense policies is to be expected, since support of the ten million refugees and ex- both the Conservative and Labor parties are in pellees in Western Germany who have not essential agreement on them. been successfully assimilated into the major It is in the field of domestic policy that the parties and who tend to favor extremist solu- indecisive nature of the election result will tions to alleviate their apparently hopeless have the most adverse effects. In the present situation. parliamentary situation, neither party is in a The only effective means of countering Com- position to pursue unpopular policies, and a munist and rightist-nationalist propaganda middle-of-the-road program may not be ade- for unification would appear to lie with the quate to combat inflation, with its consequent present moderate west German parties and effects on the British international position. DECLASSIFIED SECRET E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) 3.34.774 and 5(D) or (E) OSD letter, NARS Date 4-18-77 By NLT-

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    "ocrText": "SECRET\n7\nfor a unified nation. More recently, the Na-\nwould consist in these parties making clear\ntional Front organization of the East German\ntheir positions with respect to German unity.\nRepublic has been making contact with West\nThe Free Youth rally of the East German\nGerman politicians and organizations who re-\nCommunists in Berlin on 28 May will be an\ngard the uniting of the two Germanies as\nindication of the attraction which unity un-\nessential in order to restore German influ-\nder Communist leadership holds for Germans\nence in Europe. This desire, as yet unorgan-\nunder Western control. At a mass demon-\nized in a coordinated movement, has recently\nstration the East Germans hope to win visible\nbeen gaining ground in West Germany in a\nsupport for their form of German unification\nvariety of circles.\nfrom the people of West Berlin. The East\nThe weak condition of the West German\nGermans and their Soviet sponsors are count-\neconomy has accelerated public demands for\ning on the deteriorating economic conditions\nof the West Berlin workers to weaken their\nsome political action that may ease the serious\nunemployment situation. Many industrial-\nallegiance to Western ideals. West Berliners\nhave had their confidence in the US shaken\nists and businessmen in the Federal Republic\nare increasingly inclined to look towards the\nby the drop in West German trade resulting\nfrom the Soviets' continued interference with\nEast for raw materials and markets. The\npressure for the lifting of the Federal Repub-\nbarge and truck traffic. Although the Ade-\nlic's embargo on steel deliveries to the East\nnauer government has subsidized the Berlin\nGermans has clearly revealed this attitude.\neconomy for some time under US prodding, it\nIn contemplating the termination of the ERP\nwill now have a more important reason for\ntwo years hence, West German industrialists\ndoing so. However, as long as the USSR-ap-\nbelieve that their future economic stability\nparently confident at this time that West Ger-\ncan best be achieved through a revival of their\nmany will ultimately join the Eastern camp-\ninsists on unification under Communist direc-\nformer trade ties with Eastern Europe. A\nunified nation would, in their view, accom-\ntion, there will remain substantial resistance\nin the Bonn Republic to the acceptance of any\nplish this aim.\nsuch terms.\nIncreasing cohesion can be anticipated\namong the rightist-nationalist groups that\n8. Consequences of British Election.\nhave been advocating unification under vari-\nAlthough the security of the US will not be\nous terms. In addition, organizations of in-\ndirectly affected by the stalemate resulting\ntellectuals advocating neutralization of a\nfrom the British general election, the out-\nunited Germany in the East-West struggle\ncome is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of\nhave been gaining strength. Many of the na-\nboth the UK and the US. The period of politi-\ntionalist groups, despite their anti-Communist\ncal maneuvering which preceded the election\norientation, would not be averse in principle\nand which hindered decisive action at home\nto coming to an understanding with the USSR\nand abroad is likely to continue; one or more\nor the East German Republic if they felt they\ngeneral elections may be required before Brit-\nwould strengthen their own power in a united\nain obtains a government with an adequate\nGermany. There is some danger that such\nparliamentary majority. No change in for-\nirresponsible groups may be able to enlist the\neign or defense policies is to be expected, since\nsupport of the ten million refugees and ex-\nboth the Conservative and Labor parties are in\npellees in Western Germany who have not\nessential agreement on them.\nbeen successfully assimilated into the major\nIt is in the field of domestic policy that the\nparties and who tend to favor extremist solu-\nindecisive nature of the election result will\ntions to alleviate their apparently hopeless\nhave the most adverse effects. In the present\nsituation.\nparliamentary situation, neither party is in a\nThe only effective means of countering Com-\nposition to pursue unpopular policies, and a\nmunist and rightist-nationalist propaganda\nmiddle-of-the-road program may not be ade-\nfor unification would appear to lie with the\nquate to combat inflation, with its consequent\npresent moderate west German parties and\neffects on the British international position.\nDECLASSIFIED\nSECRET\nE. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) 3.34.774 and 5(D) or (E)\nOSD\nletter,\nNARS\nDate\n4-18-77\nBy\nNLT-"
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