Brandt And Stoph Meet In Erfurt

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32251, 20 March 1970, Page 15

Brandt And Stoph Meet In Erfurt

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

ERFURT (East Germany), March 19.

Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany and the East German Prime Minister (Mr Willi Stoph) today shook hands at the platform of Erfurt Railway Station, marking the start of the first German Heads of Governments’ summit meeting.

Thousands of East Germans, kept at a distance by a security police, cheered and yelled “Willy, Willy,” as the Chancellor arrived.

Mr Stoph shook hands with the Chancellor and told him, “I welcome you on the territory of the German Democratic Republic and hope your stay will be a pleasant one. 1 hope our talks will be successful.” Mr Brandt replied: “Thank you, Mr Prime Minister. That I hope too.” The rather stiff formalities of the welcoming ceremony were broken when journalists mixed with the welcoming party and Mr Stoph said apologetically: “I am afraid the protocol has gone out of control.”

Mr Brandt and Mr Stoph walked across a 30-yard red carpet flanked by potted plants through the station building. As they crossed the square to the Erfurter Hof Hotel where the summit meeting is being held, the West German Chancellor was visible only a few seconds to a cheering crowd of East Germans behind police barriers at the far end of the square.

As tbe two heads of Governments entered the hotel, followed by officials and a milling crowd of press photographers, the East German onlookers surged towards the building in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Chancellor Brandt.

Security officials quickly closed the hotel door in the face of the crowd.

Before Mr Brandt’s special train arrived, East German police were forced to allow the crowd of spectators, who had been kept 100 yards from the station, to move some 30 yards nearer because of the enormous crush.