(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000100140015-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 25, 1998
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: February 3, 1959
• Content Type: MISC

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WEST GERMANY
Feb. 3, 1959
FRAN(t't TER A LLGEMEINE ZEITUNG emphasizes that Dulles cane trusted to
steer a course which will safeguard Western interests. SIN-IECK -
ZEITUrG, Heidelberg, is afraid that Dulles has been exppsed to pressure
from such advocates of a softer policy as Senator Full ight and Senator
Mansfield. The paper urgeatlyvVne Washington of "agother Munich."
DER TAG, Berlin, is convinced that Dulles has an intensification(;cif
Western cooperation in mind rather than a reorientation of U.$ policy
toward Germany.
STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG contends that I{hrushchevrs primary aim is to, arrive
at a bilateral agreement with the United States and that for this reason
he has made frantic attempts to detract Washington's attention from
Germany. The surprise visit of Dulles proves that these attempts have
met w1th failure. FRAENFURTER I UE FRESSW believes that Dulles' surprise
visit is welcome e i'idence of a more vigox(is treatment of the grave Berlin
crisis,
The Hamburg/Essen paper, DIE WELT, warns the Germans to exercise utmost
moderation and to refrain from precipitate proposals and plans, leaving
things to Washington, and acting or y in an advisory capacity. In this
capacity, however, Bonn leaders should ask Dulles whether the Americans
are going to desert the Germans, or whether they are going to give:
them the same unfailing support which Soviet Zone Germans enjoy from
Moscow.
SUEL1Y`_'UTSCHE ZEITUNG, Munich,." points out that "cast-iron toughness..
amounts to frivolous complac,`ny. Good steel should be pliable."
ALIGIIIlINE ZEITUNG, Mainz, tecommends that the West place more accent
on concessions to get Moscw to the conference table.
Eugen Kogon notes over Radio Frankfurt that Dulles is today's only
statesman who sees poliical developments correctly. During his visit
to Europe Dulles will ost likely convince West European statesmen of
his plans to make lib'ral proposals to the Soviets, including a ministers
conference in the spng, to overcome the Berlin deadlock. As regards
proposals from Bonnr Kogon continues, the Federal Government has practi-
cally nothing to oer for an acceptable compromise.
Gerd Ruge, spe ing from Moscow over Radio Stuttgart and Franktur't, points
out nothing se sational has come out of the 21st CPSU congress, adding
that the Sov' is seem willing to reestablish the World War II coalition
with their 6rtr~er A1lies to solve the German problem.
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- P WEST GE IvJANY
Feb. 3, 1959
As regards the USSR domestic situation, it" -ushchev pointed. out that the
stage of forcible internal measures has een passed; an indication that
increased party activity will subsitut for earlier police actions. The
congress will most likely end with unmous praise of Khrushchev and
his policies,, Ruge concludes.
PRESS UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMNS COAL TAB.
(Editorial Repot--G) Several West German papers discuss the coal problem
and regardless of affiliation all condemn the introduction of the import
tax on American coal, The progover.nment papers emphasize that this measure
was introduced by the Bonn government under pressure from the mine workers
union, while the opposition papers place the accent on government pro-
tectionism for the coal mining industry and other interest groups. All
papers, except the procommunist Munich weekly, DEUTSCHE WOCIP, call
attention to the political damage created by arousing American antagonism
at a time when U.S. benevolence is needed most urgently in view of the
Berlin crisis.
FRANKFURTER _ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG u- arns that in the present situhtiorf--the
Federal Republic cannot afford to create a clash of economic interests
with the United States. The American protest against the coal import
tax is by no means a mere gesture intended to pacify the American coal
industry,::ahd mine workers union. The coal tax is a political measure
violating the principles on which West German prosperity is based, and
it will not be surprising if such political intervention leads to
political and economic damage.
SCUWALBISCEE LANDESZEITUNG, Augsburg, hopes that the coal import tax
will offer a respite to the mining industry during which it can adapt
itself to the world market conditions. The government should stop
pampering this industry, and the opposition should have enough sense
not to demand that the privileges of this branch of industry be legalized.
SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, Munich, thinks that Erhard's violation of the free
market economy would be excusable if the respite offered to the coal
mining industry was designed as a period of adaption to make it ready
for competition, but denies that this will be the case.
FRANKFURTER.. RUNDSCHAU predicts that the Americanscswill most likely
respond by raising import taxes for goods from the Federal Republic.
The paper recommends that unprofitable pits be closed because the,coal
era has come to an end with the advance of fuel oil and nuclear power.
Both progovernment and pro-opposition papers reject the idea of nationali-
zation as the remedy to t~ c hh11e~
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WEST GERMANY
Feb. 3, 1959
Frankfurt, F111ANI 'U1tiTE1R ALLGTI-IEINE LEITMG, Feb: 2, 1959--G
(Summary) Bonn--In a strongly worded protest to the Federal Government,
the Association of West German Coal Importers states that the coal import
duty system, which constitutes an unfair intervention in private contracts,
will raise prices of American coal in the North German costal areas beyond
th ise charged for Ruhr coal. It will adversely affect the ability of
North German industries to compete, will increase power production
costs, and will reduce the transshipment volume at North German seaports.
The West German Gas and Power Industry Association has pointed out that
an increase in coal prices by only one DM per ton will raise gas prices
by one pfennig per cubic meter. The import duty system will increase
production cost of West German power plants by about (500?) million DM
annually and will thus have ser:Ious repercussions on power prices. The
association suggested that the Ruhr coal minin industry supply the
power industry in the future with the same quantity of high-grade coal
at the same -prices as stipulated in the coal import contracts. The funds
needed for cancellation of the import contracts should be made available
by the Ruhr coal sales organization. .
The West:,German Shipowners Association has pointed out that cancellation
of import contracts for every 100,000 tons of American coal will make an
additional West German freighter idle for 1 year and will thus have the
effect of reducing sea freight rates further. West German shipowners
have concluded charter agreements calling for shipment of more than 9
million tons of American coal during the period 1959 through 1967. Since
most of these contracts are expected to be canceled, West German shipowners
will claim from the Federal Government an indemnification of 100 million DM.
Following recommendlations made by the European coal-and-steel pool adminis-
tration, the Bundestag on Jan. 29 decided to raise the duty-free coal
import quota to 5 million tons annually. The quotas for coal imports
from the individual countries were set as follows: The United States,
4.1t2 million .tons; Poland, 30;,000 tons; Great Britain, 207,000 tons;
Norway, 35,000 tons; USSR, 270000 tons; and Czechoslovakia, 8,000 tons.
The Bundesrat will discuss the planned legislation at its next meeting
on Feb. 6. though the economics ministers of the Land governments
have recommended disapproval of the bill, rejection by the Bundesrat
cannot prevent the legislation from becoming effective.
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