Germans rally for Reagan

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 6

Germans rally for Reagan

NPZA , Bonn More than 100.000 West German conservatives demonstrated in support of President Reagan and a strong Western alliance in Bonn and Munich at the week-end. four days before he arrives for a' N.A.T.O. summit conference.

Waving United States and West German flags, the mainly middle-aged demonstrators carried banners proclaiming: "Say something good for America," “Thank you U.S.A, for 37 years of freedom." and “Neither red nor dead."

The Christian Democratic Opposition Leader. Helmut Kohn, told the Bonn rally, estimated at 70.000 people: “Without the United States and its readiness to defend our freedom, this rally of free citizens in a free land would not be possible." In Munich the Right-wing Bavarian Minister-President (Mr Franz Josef Strauss) told about 40.000 demonstrators that Europe had enjoyed 37 years of peace only because of the presence of nuclear weapons. C.D.U. officials said the unprecedented rallies were designed to reassure Bonn's allies that a silent majority of West Germans backed the United States and wanted a strong North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr Kohn said Americans were more used to seeing television pictures of red flags, raised fists, and antiAmerican violence from West Germany. That was why the C.D.U. had wanted to show them a different picture of the Germans. he said.

So-called "revolutionary cells” exploded eight bombs at United States military and business premises last week in protest against Mr Reagan’s visit.

Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who plays host to the 15 other N.A.T.O. leaders on Friday, described the rallies as superfluous, saying West Germans did not need to prove support for their friends by taking to the streets.

The demonstrations came a day before a key regional poll in Mr Schmidt’s home city of Hamburg, where his Social Democratic Party looks certain to lose its absolute majority and may be unable to form a majority coalition with the Free Democrats.