Schmidt’s remarks upset

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 15

Schmidt’s remarks upset

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

BONN, April 16,

The West German Chancellor, Helmut! Schmidt, may have) caused a diplomatic up-; set with Italy with remarks in Bonn voicing his concern at the drift of events in that country. On television last night, the Chancellor linked Italy with Spain and Portugal as countries where “old ways have been maintained for decades by violence and force.”

Only in such countries had strong Communist parties developed, said Mr Schmidt, who had been asked about the possibility of Communists winning more power in Italy. The Italian Ambassador in Bonn had been told to investigate Mr Schmidt’s remarks, and if necessary to lodge a strong protest.

The Chancellor said he doubted the ability of some Western European countries to govern themselves. Diplomatic observers here said the Chancellor’s remarks might strain relations between the two European Common Market partners at a time when the E.E.C. is suffering from considerable internal difficulties. In the interview Mr Schmidt underlined the E.E.C.’s problems when he said there was “a vacuum in individual West European States’ ability to govern.”