Berlin Talks In Prospect

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32222, 14 February 1970, Page 11

Berlin Talks In Prospect

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) ] BONN, February 13. I There are prospects today of an unprecedented man-to-man conference in East Berlin between the West German Chancellor (Mr Willy Brandt) and the Prime Minister of East (Germany (Mr Willi Stoph). Mr Brandt yesterday received a letter from Mr Stoph, proposing a meeting at 11 a.m, next Thursday or at the same time on February 26 at the Council of Ministers building in the Communist half of Berlin. If Mr Brandt decides to accept the invitation he will face a difficult encounter, for there are no signs that the East Germans will modify demands for full international recognition as the only suitable basis for agreement on the renunciation of force or other matters. This is unacceptable to the Bonn Government, although it has gone further than any of its predecessors in acknow-

ledging the existence of the | East German state. j Mr Stoph reinforced the East German position in a ) speech in Dresden yesterday, in which he said that West Germany, by refusing to recognise his country, was blocking the only possible way to improving relations between the two Mr Brandt, in a letter to Mr Stoph on January 22, offered non-aggression negotia-! tions that could provide an opportunity for discussion of all outstanding problems, including that of equal relations. While willing to establish > some formal link with East ’ Germany, the Brandt Government has made the reserva- ’ tion that the two states can never be foreign territory to each other and that diplomatic recognition is out of the I question. Mr Brandt nominated his : Minister of Intra-German I

Affairs (Mr Egon Franke) for the talks, and if the Chancellor decides to make the unprecedented trip to East Berlin, Mr Franke will accompany him. Both Government and Christian Democratic Opposition politicians reacted sombrely to the letter. The socialist Parliamentary floor leader (Mr Herbert Wehner), said that the letter expressed

the known Communist position—that West Germany should accept all East German demands before entering negotiations.

Mr Olaf Von Wrangel, Parliamentary manager of the Christian Democrats, said that the letter was a disappointment for all who had hoped for a sensible dialogue between Bonn and East Berlin.