“Softer” German Policy Towards Russia Denied

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 13

“Softer” German Policy Towards Russia Denied

(N2. Press Assn^—Copyright) BONN, March 8. Dr. Adenauer made it clear last night that the controversy over reported remarks by the West German Ambassador to Russia, Dr. Hans Kroll, in no way represented a dispute over West German policy towards Russia.

The Chancellor was addressing the executive of the Christian Democratic ifnion. Dr. Kroll, who returned from Moscow yesterday at Dr. Adenauer’s direction, had a two-hour meeting with the Foreign Minister, Dr. E. Schroeder. Dr. Schroeder ordered a ban on all news about his attempt to clarify allegations that Dr. Kroll had proposed a softer policy towards Russia. Certain West German newspapers claimed that on his visit to Bonn last month. Dr. Kroll outlined to reporters a proposed policy involving recognition of the OderNeisse line, admission of both West and East Germany to the United Nations and a 10,000 million-mark loan to Russia. The West German Government has several times specifically rejected all these points. Earlier, Dr. Adenauer told representatives of refugee amociations, who had expressed concern at the re-

ported proposed recognition of the Oder-Neisse line, that the Government's view still was that the border question was one reserved for a peace treaty with a united Germany.

Union was a Poland which could decide its own fate, Mr Strauss said. Ambassador Criticised

Another diplomat at the Moscow Embassy was reported by several newspapers to be openly criticising his absent ambassador.

A Foreign Office spokesman said in Bonn that the purpose of the discussion with Dr. Kroll was to determine whether he had in fact sponsored the policies attributed to him. "Good Ahn”

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the diplomat. Dr. Wilhelm Hartlieb, embassy counsellor ranking third to Dr. Kroll, had been asked for his explanation of the press reports.

Reuter’s reported that the West German Defence Minister. Mr Strauss, today came to the support of Dr. Kroll. Mr Strauss told a political meeting at Volshofen, Bavaria: “I would like to say that my own conviction is that Dr. Kroll is pursuing a good alm.” He added that any agreement with the Soviet Union must not mean renunciation of self-determination for Germans, of the unity of Europe or of the partnership between Europe and the United States. A pre-condition for a settlement between West Germany and the Soviet

Newspapers reported from Moscow that Dr. Hartlieb was openly telling journalists that Dr. Kroll’s political ideas of reaching some settlement wth Russia were "an illusion.”

Dr. Hartlieb was quoted as saying the “Kroll explosion” had occurred because Dr. Kroll had allowed himself to be put forward by the Free Democratic Party, a minority partner in Dr. Adenauer’s Government, as a candidate for Foreign Minister. The Free Democrats today described this idea as “absolutely false.”