Innsbruck, [March 3], 1970
The Political Change in Austria
At the Austrian parliamentary elections of March 1, the SPÖ (Socialist Party of Austria) won the relative majority. The Socialists succeeded in penetrating the pool of regular voters of the conservative ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party) on the countryside of the Western provinces. They also attracted swing voters and the young generation. A major political change has happened in Austria, a fundamental reorientation of the political landscape has occurred. The elections were carried out quietly and without disturbances, what proved again the democratic maturity of the country. Worn-out and stagnant after 25 years in power, the People’s Party had to turn over the reins of government to the Socialists. Dr. Bruno Kreisky who dominated these elections has now the opportunity as Federal Chancellor to realize the Socialist concept of a modern Austria. The new distribution of seats in the Parliament is as follows: 81 SPÖ; 79 ÖVP; and 5 FPÖ ( Liberal Party of Austria).
For many conservative circles in Austria, the Socialist victory in these national elections came like a harbinger of the end of the world, although nothing catastrophic has really happened. Voters trusted the new image of the Socialist Party, which to a high degree has abandoned its Austro-Marxist heritage. Above all, the country relied on the personality of Bruno Kreisky who stood up credibly for the basic principles of Western democracy.
[Bruno Kreisky, lawyer, diplomat, politician, was born 1911 in Vienna; since 1927 active in the Socialist workers youth movement, 1935-36 placed under detention; 1938-45 lived in exile in Sweden. From 1945-51 Kreisky served as Austrian ambassador in Stockholm; as state secretary in the Chancellor’s Office, 1953-59, he was considerably engaged in bringing the negotiations on the Austrian State Treaty to a conclusion. From 1959-66 he was Austrian foreign minister; since 1967 chairman of the SPÖ. Kreisky was Federal Chancellor from 1970-83; supported by the absolute Socialist majority in Parliament, 1971-81 - the Kreisky era -, he could carry out the essential domestic reforms in Austria. Kreisky died on July 29, 1990, in Vienna.]
Innsbruck, March 5, 1970
Today, when the 43 states that signed on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty deposit their ratified documents in Washington, London, and Moscow, the Treaty will come into effect.
The voluntary renunciation of developing and spreading nuclear weapons is an essential step forward for the self-preservation of mankind.
Innsbruck, March 19, 1970
The Meeting in Erfurt
For the first time in twenty years, the representatives of East and West Germany sat down at the conference table in Erfurt. Chancellor Willy Brandt went to Erfurt in East Germany to meet with his East German counterpart Premier Willi Stoph. At this meeting, subconscious emotions were set free of which nobody had thought that they existed. Demonstrations of sympathy for Willy Brandt erupted spontaneously. It remains to be seen whether the East German regime can afford to let things take their course.
There can be no doubt anymore that these negotiations will ultimately lead to the recognition of the DDR (German Democratic Republic) or East Germany as a separate state. In return one may expect an improvement of human relations between the two German states. The world has already got used to speaking of two German states so that denying their existence would be anachronistic.
The entire political development in Europe is going in the direction of maintaining the status quo. This means that the borders, as they have been established by World War II, remain in place as they are and that they will be secured by treaty. Any other solution would become more and more wishful thinking.