South Bend, February 7, 1988
Assurances for Europe
[Second thoughts arose on both sides of the Atlantic that eliminating intermediate-range nuclear forces could expose Western Europe without protection to an attack from the East, for the Warsaw Pact was far superior in conventional weapons.]
While the Senate hearings on the INF Treaty were still ongoing, a delegation of influential senators and members of the House went to Europe to inquire how the countries affected by the Treaty reacted. At the same time, they assured Europeans that America would never abandon Europe. The delegation met in Munich with politicians of the Federal Republic. It was expressed repeatedly that the security of the Federal Republic was of importance to the United States as well. Jim Wright, the Speaker of the House, emphasized the close ties of America with Europe, saying: “ Europe is not only the Old Home for so many of our countrymen, Europe’s security is also our security.”
[The long-standing Democratic Representative from Texas, James “Jim” C. Wright, Jr., succeeded Tip O’Neill as Speaker of the House in 1986.]
Note
[The argument that by establishing a nuclear free zone, Western Europe could be overrun by the East was at first refuted by the fact that the nuclear capacity of France and Great Britain will not be diminished by the Treaty. Moreover, George Shultz pointed out several times that when the Treaty is enacted, the American Armed Forces in Europe in the air and on the sea will retain enough nuclear striking power to fend off any attempt of an attack by the East. See G. Shultz, Turmoil and Triumph, p. 1082.]
South Bend, February 28, 1988
The XV Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, ended today. It was the first Winter Olympics hosted by Canada. The Games came off splendidly. They were performed in a spirit of fair sportsmanship. National confrontations and personal rivalries remained limited to a minimum. The many guests were warmly received by the citizens of Calgary. And the Rocky Mountains provided a magnificent scenery for this great sports event.