Sunday, November 20, 1983
The Beginning of NATO’s Nuclear Update
Threatening, ominous, as if apocalyptic shivers would run down the spine - such was the reaction to the arrival of the first cruise missiles from America at the Greenham Common Base near London in Berkshire. No doubt, this is the beginning of NATO’s nuclear update in Europe. What has just started in England will soon be also carried out in Sicily, in the Federal Republic, and in the Netherlands. Deep anxiety and fear of the future have taken hold of the European public. Rarely has an action, which should serve the purpose of security, caused so much insecurity.
November 20, 1983
Courage Shown
Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt showed his courage at the Party Conference of the SPD. Although his own party had clearly rejected the deployment of the Pershing II missiles, he stood by his word to carry out NATO’s nuclear armament update. In December 1979 Schmidt had supported NATO’s “dual track” resolution. He reminded his party that the nuclear balance in Europe could only be achieved in cooperation with the leading protecting power of the West.
[Transl: The “dual track” approach in NATO’s decision of December 1979 meant that, while the disarmament negotiations were ongoing in Geneva, preparations would be made for the deployment of the Pershing II and cruise missiles.]
November 23, 1983
Nuclear Armament Update Accepted
At yesterday’s vote in the Bundestag, NATO’s nuclear armament update was accepted by the ruling coalition of CDU/CSU and FDP against the votes of the SPD. Chancellor Kohl made a strong effort for its passage. Within the SPD Helmut Schmidt remained isolated. In one of the vital questions of the Federal Republic, a deep chasm of difference of opinion and discord has opened up. Just a few hours after the resolution in the Bundestag, the first Pershing II missiles were flown into Southern Germany.