Brandt And Stoph Meet Again

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32303, 22 May 1970, Page 13

Brandt And Stoph Meet Again

ftf.Z.P.A. -Reuter— Copyright)

KASSEL (West Germany), May 21.

The West German Chancellor, Mr Willy Brandt, and the East German Prime Minister (Mr Willi Stoph) will face each other in Kassel across the bargaining table for the second time today, but there were no hopes of any spectacular success.

Their first historic meeting was held in Erfurt, East Germany, on March 19, after more than 20 years almost totally barren of political communication between the two sides.

The new attempt to bring their estranged countries closer together is set against the gloomy background of unrelenting East German blasts against Bonn repeating the demand for international recognition and, more specifically, hitting at West German opposition of the Communist State’s bid for membership of the World Health Organisation. But the meeting has aroused great excitement among the people of Kassel and thousands crowded round the 18th century Schloss Wilhelmshoehe where a threestorey press centre has been set up. Big Welcome Mr Brandt got a big welcome when he flew in last night. After his helicopter touched down, the Chancellor was followed by a crowd of

several hundred as he walked the 200 yards to his suite in the schloss (hotel), the site of the talks. When a chanted cry of "Willy Brandt, Willy Brandt” went up, he came to a window to wave. Mr Stoph spent the night travelling by train from East Germany. Mr Brandt planned to meet him at the station and from there go to the conference hall to get down to business. A big police force, with riot squads standing by in reserve, was on duty to prevent any demonstrations disrupting the talks. Thousands of East German refugees have said that they intend holding a silent march during the conference to demand “no sell-out” to the Communists, while the small West German Communist Party called a rally to demand full diplomatic recognition of East Germany.

Von Thadden Speaks

The Associated Press reported that about 800 persons, described mostly as curious onlookers, showed up at a demonstration tonight called by the Right-wing National Democratic Party (N.P.D.). They heard the N.P.D. chairman, Mr Adolf Von Thadden, urge Brandt not to bow to East Berlin demands that Bonn recognise East Germany as a Sovereign State. The N.P.D. demonstrators drove into Kassel in cars decorated with pgns demanding removal of the Berlin wall and they assembled at a sports arena on the outskirts of Kassel. After Mr Von Thadden finished his speech, police with microphones reminded the onlookers that any protest march would not have police permission. But no march was held. About 300 members of the youth branch of the Christian Democratic Party moved through the streets in a silent march called to show what they called youth’s disregard for Germany’s division. Police reported no incidents.

Polemics Or Business

N.Z.P.A.-Reuter said that before leaving Bonn last night, Mr Brandt told the West Germany news agency (D.P.A.) in an interview, that it remained to be seen whether the East Germans would stick to their polemics or be prepared to talk business.

The chief Bonn Government spokesman, Mr Conrad Ahlers, also struck a reserved note in his first press conference to the 1400 Western and Communist journalists who have invaded this city of some 200,000 for the talks.

“We regard the outlook very soberly,” Mr Ahlers said. “If there is to be progress we must be prepared for a long march.” In Erfurt, Mr Stoph began the talks with a long opening speech, laying down the East German position, based on a draft State treaty including full recognition, sent to Bonn last December by the Communist First Secretary (Mr Walter Ulbricht). The draft will still be on the table in Kassel. But this time Chancellor Brandt as the host, will have the first say. He brought with him a package of 20 proposals for a settlement of equal relations between the two States and these will take up the bulk of his opening statement. Proposals Secret Details of Mr Brandt's proposals have been kept secret, 1 but the Chancellor told D.P.A. that areas where he would like to see progress included trade, transport, postal services, culture and local frontier problems. Despite the expected toughnes of the bargaining, Mr Brandt said the very fact that this second meeting was taking place was significant. But he said that the most it could lead to was to the start of genuine negotiations between the States.