thumbnail of Crocker Snow Reports From Germany; Professor McGhee, Ambassador
Transcript
Hide -
If this transcript has significant errors that should be corrected, let us know, so we can add it to FIX IT+
Greetings from West Germany. This is Crocker snow speaking from the studios of Radio developed cologne. The city with the world famous Gothic cathedral this week and interview with the American ambassador to West Germany George McGee Ambassador McGee is now completing his third year as the United States's highest representative in this country. He was appointed to the post in May 1963 by the late President Kennedy bringing with him a well-rounded governmental background including positions as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern South Asian and African Affairs ambassador to Turkey and chairman of the Policy Planning Council of the State Department. Ambassador McGee oversees the actions of one of the largest American embassy staffs in the whole world probably second in size only to the embassy in England some three hundred forty Americans and 500 Germans ranging from a US staff to an Internal
Revenue Service man to a maggot group and even a geographic Attash whose beat is Germany and all of Eastern Europe. The embassy itself is located in the diplomatic community of Bob gotos burg just south of the federal Republic's temporary capital at Bonn at present. It is jointly occupied by the embassy staff in the West German Finance Ministry building one thousand fifty one. It resembles architecturally the State Department building in Washington large plain and quite on imaginative but it does have the advantage of being located right on the banks of West Germany as busy and beautiful Rhine River. And now the interview conducted on May 5th at the American Embassy go to the snow and the responsibilities of an ambassador. Very complex. I would take a long time to describe all of my many duties.
I'd like to say though that first of all I consider myself to be the personal representative of the present United States in Germany. To further the American interest insofar as it involves the relations between our two governments and two peoples This is Zoom's a variety of forms. There's of course the purely reporting function of advising our government of what's happening in Germany and the attitudes of the leaders of Germany. There's the element of looking after the immediate interests of Americans who are traveling in Germany or have business interests in Germany. There's a question of explaining both to the government and the people of Germany the policies of our country so that they will support us and international forum and the public their public expression. I feel that I have a positive role to attempt to better the understanding and relationships between us not just a passive role.
And in every way in my public utterances as well as my talks with the government to explain the American view so the Germans can become come to see and support the policies of our government wherever they are. As the policy representative then how would you describe the overall American policy at present towards a federal republic. Our policy toward Germany is that of one ally allied toward another one of our closest friends in the world and the one with whom we have the most intimate relationship. Being a military ally naturally favors this relationship we are both key members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The German force is in the organization comparable in strength to our own and ours together constitute the book of the forces that are prepared to defend Western Europe against a possible aggression from the east. However our
relations with Germany do not end with our military cooperation. We are very interested and. The various European problems which face Germany we would like to see a united Europe brought about and Germany is one of the main proponents of such a Europe. We also share with Germany the responsibilities of the free world generally. Both of us have to play a role of the undeveloped countries are to be assisted in the long process of their development and to be encouraged to stay within the free world. We of course cooperate with the Germans in many international organizations Unfortunately they are not in the United Nations but they participate in the various subsidiary bodies of the United Nations. And there is a broadside relationship between us which derives from the fact that there are some 25 million people in our country of German origin and very close historic and cultural ties between us.
Getting back to Natal for a moment considering France's withdrawal how do you consider from this vantage point how do you consider the future of NATO and more particularly West Germany's role in it. Well there's no date and no question that they too is going to survive this challenge which has been made good by General de Gaulle. It will take some time to overcome the disadvantages which have been forced on the Natal by de Gaulle but it can be done. We can relocate our bases we can relocate our command. Organizations if necessary the council itself can move. We can relocate our supply lines and the 14 will end up with a very strong ATO. It's regretted that France won't be with us and we will be somewhat weakened by that fact but will always keep the door open for France and we hope that some subsequent government of France will elect to resume full cooperation with NATO. Considering France's withdrawal Do you consider that the Franco-German friendship
treaty of 1963 is now a dead letter. By no means. Naturally France has relations with all NATO countries have been somewhat impaired by their withdrawal from active cooperation in NATO but many other aspects of Franco-German friendship continue. For example just last week Mr fouché met with Mr President Kissinger who is the German representative in cultural exchanges under the German-American treaty. They discussed the radio problems. The two countries and how they could be coordinated the exchange of several hundred thousand young people a year between France and Germany will go on just a few days ago. The defense minister of France Mr. mesmeric met with Defense Minister of an hospital here and the whole range of cooperation between Germany and France will continue and we hope it does because we believe that French German friendship is one of the foundation stones of Europe.
How do you expect. How do you expect the reunification issue which of course is probably the most major domestic problem in West Germany. How do you expect this to develop in the in the succeeding years. I'm convinced that Germany will not time be a real united country. And I'm convinced that this is the desire of the people in East Germany as well as in West Germany. Progress toward this of course has been very slow and for one reason and one reason only and this is because the Soviet Union opposes it. Indeed they are not they are not even willing to discuss it. And since we have all Germans ourselves undertaken not to attempt to solve this problem by force they probably will not be progress for some time. The Soviets a very. Firm on this issue had to present all the contacts it had been had between Germans and Soviet officials and Americans and Soviet officials have indicated no flexibility at all in the Soviet position.
And yet you say you think it is. It will be seen in our time how do you foresee this. I'm convinced that the Soviet Union will eventually see that it is not to their advantage to continue to divide the German people. They suffer greatly in the eyes of the world by virtue of this wall which is an inhumane act which has no analogy in the present world today. And if we can eliminate colonialism elsewhere in the world it's highly. Anomalous that colonialism continue to exist in the heart of Europe. Considering the recent exchange of letters between the communist SCD party and the Social Democrat Party here in West Germany do you think this exchange of letters and the possible talks that might come out of this is a sign of progress towards Greenough occasion. We do have the Germans do we consider this basically a German matter.
This is a question of one German talking to other Germans and we reckon that the government in Bonn represents all Germans. If the government in Bonn decides that this is a good thing and if we conclude that it does not in carrying it out and danger our position in Berlin our responsibilities remaining for Germany as a whole then we would agree that is a good thing. Basically we believe this is a decision for the German government. Switching to a new subject Ambassador McGee How do you regard the federal Republic's apparent desire to play some sort of role in the nuclear planning and the nuclear strategy of the Western alliance. Well the Germans are in the most exposed position of any of the allies they are on the border. They know that their seven hundred fifty Soviet him RBM pointed your money at them. They naturally are quite interested in some force which would deter these him rpm's I would counter them in the event of hostilities. They
know too that unless their country is defended at the border would if they overrun for example in a conflict that they would be nothing left of Germany. And it is not great a great deal of consolation to Germans if the ultimate victory occurs after Germany has been destroyed. And that's why they have a legitimate interest in the decisions to employ these weapons they would like for their voice to be heard in the setting of priorities and targets for the existing weapons of the alliance and a voice to be heard when a decision is to be made as to employment. They understand that we have to keep the veto and they don't question at all. They just want their voice to be heard at the appropriate time. Phrasing the question a bit a bit differently then do you think that those West German interest in the nuclear planning of the West is a natural one. As you just expressed or do you think it perhaps is more prompted by the continued stalemate in reunification. In other words do you
think it may be just sort sort of for a bargaining strength in the reunification issue. No I think the Germans have a legit legitimate interest in participating in nuclear fairs apart from the reunification issue. A few people outside the government occasionally commented on advances in this field might be something you could bargain for you know reunification but I don't believe this is in the minds of the German leaders who have asked for greater nuclear participation. If Germany is it West Germany is frustrated in each of the three policy objectives major objectives namely more a more united Europe a role in the nuclear strategy of the West and reunification. Do you think that the result might well be a rebirth of nationalism within the country here. This is often pointed out as a possibility. It's no I don't believe there's evidence that there's a trend in this direction as yet in the first place. Progress in these
three areas is by no means completely stopped at the moment. The question of nuclear sharing is still under review. Our government is willing to consider any arrangement which would be suitable to the Germans and the other European nations involved which would give Germany increased participation. This matter was discussed in a meeting held last week in London between the five ministers to the Defense Subcommittee of the so-called special committee. Also the Germans have not given up hope for reunification even though it's delayed. Most Germans think that it will ultimately come. And many Germans still have strong hopes for European unity. It's a stop largely by General de Gaulle but other Frenchmen as well as most Europeans would be willing to make progress and European unification. Germany is not in an impossible
situation today. There is prosperity here. The government it is functioning well there's a high degree of social justice as well as economic justice here. And I think the Germans can be patient. What is your opinion about the veracity the truth and veracity of the various recent magazine articles in both this country and the United States concerning a rebirth of nationalism here. Do you view this. For example do you view the recent election gains of the NPD in both Homburg and Bavaria with concern. Many of the articles that I have seen have tended to pick out the worst aspects and to highlight rather small incidents and to draw general conclusions from these which I think in many cases are not justified. Every country has extremist elements. We have extremist elements we have the Nazi party in America. The number of extremists in Germany is
indicated by the last election was well less than 2 percent and that means they couldn't get in the Parliament because you have to have 5 percent to get into the Parliament. In our country I'm sure we would have at least 2 percent or more who would be classified as extremists of all varieties and it's not true that all of the extremists in Germany are necessarily extremist along neo-Nazi lines. There are many people like those in our country who are extremist because they don't want to pay taxes or they're against development a various things and they tend to group in extremist parties as you pointed out this exodus party in Germany had achieved. Look larger of success during the recent coming common elections and wasn't dissipated it received I think between 3 and 4 percent of the votes in Hamburg. I wouldn't want to comment on this party because it's
a legitimate party in Germany and it would be inappropriate for me but I would like to point out that this constitutes a very small percentage of the electorate. Ambassador McGee What is your attitude about the official West German participation in the war in Vietnam. Contrary to rumors at one time it's no our government has never asked the Germans for a military contribution to the Vietnam War. We have asked all of our allies to do what they can to help there. And we welcome any help they can give. But we've stated very clearly the sector status and this number of times that it's up to every country to decide the form of its own particular contribution. And the Germans have decided that their contribution should be in the economic and humanitarian field and we have not questioned that decision. Naturally we'd like for them to do as much as they can but the Germans have in fact done quite a lot and are very much of this is known in our country. Last year they gave some 25 million dollars in economic aid which was second only to us in terms of
economic contributions by the free countries of the world. This year as you point out they've given the hospital ship Helga land which I'm told will cost some ten millions of dollars. Last week they sent eighteen hundred tons of pharmaceuticals. They've sent several missions to Germany to pave the way for larger missions which can carry out various tasks. For example they plan to send 100 buses to the city of Saigon and to establish a repair center for the buses of Saigon. They have already vocational training missions in South Vietnam and they are increasing these. They're considering helping dredge the harbor of Saigon and increasing the work that they are doing through social centers in Saigon and elsewhere in the country. I believe early this year you made a small speaking tour of the Federal Republic to explain our policies to various groups. Our policies in South South Vietnam. How
do you thereby rate the general reaction of the West German population to the situation there. I believe that the Germans support our policy on the whole as much as any other country. Indeed I think the support is probably comparable to the support in our own country. This is based on various factors. One the Germans themselves are a divided country who need the support of the free world and they understand that freedom in the world is really into visible that you can't support it here and let it go by default. I think they feel that if we in the West appeared weak in South Vietnam these of the Communist aggression that the Communists might conclude that we would be weak. Similarly in Berlin and in Germany and I believe that the German people as a whole strongly support our policies. This is reflected in the
newspaper editorials in Germany. It's reflected in the views of the government as stated very clearly by chance that Earhart and others. It stated I believe. It is reflected in the views of the business leaders of Germany. Now you do find some of the younger people as in our country who are worried about the war in South Vietnam for various reasons many of them ideological theoretical reasons. For example many of them ask me how do we know that the people of South Vietnam really wish us to support them. How do we know that their anticommunist has never been an election in South Vietnam. There is of course an answer to this but some of these factors trouble each young people very sincerely. I've talked to students in every German American every German university. To many of them on the question of Vietnam. And I find some very searching questions.
Being put to me when and when I have a question and answer period. I find in general that they are very sincere and that quite often after it's explained to them the nature of the conflict they're in the clear aggressive intent of the Vietcong and the fact that they are not supported by the majority of the people that these students will take a more. Flexible attitude. So in general don't you rate the the reaction of the population to our actions down in southeast Asia as favorable. Indeed the official position of the government is very strongly in our in our support. This was reflected in the communique issued last December following the visit of Chancellor Erhard with President Johnson one of the leading publishers of Germany whose papers are very strongly in favor of our policy. It tells me that 60 percent of the mail that is newspaper
chain gets in strong support of U.S. policy in South Vietnam. Ambassador McGee How do you regard the sale of a steel rolling mill by a European consortium headed by de mark of distal door to Red China recently. Do you think that the sale and the 75 million dollar credit guarantee extended by the Federal Republic was premature considering United States policies towards Red China. Let it snow as I said in a speech a couple weeks ago in Hamburg. We were disappointed that this sale was made that the offer was made the sale is not in fact actually been consummated yet to my knowledge that we were disappointed that the German government and the firms concerned did not give consideration to the impact of the sale on peace in the Pacific. On the other hand it is true that when we were asked about the sale of year ago we did not officially protest because
we had no basis to protest this equipment which is not steel manufacturing equipment. That is it is rolling mill equipment fabricating equipment. It was for civilian purposes and it did not follow on the agreed prohibited list which the Western countries abide by. Moreover had the Germans not sold us equipment it would unquestionably have been sold to China by some other member of the Western alliance. Since we had no legal basis on which to oppose we told the German government this and told them and we did so reluctantly because the German government knows attitude towards phonetic transactions of this type which could in any way strengthen the economy of China because we have a very firm policy. We have no trade with
communist China. But our other allies do not sit quite in this light. And many of them very sincerely think that to keep trade going in non-strategic goods may ultimately. Provide a link between China and the free world which will be of value Ambassador McGee do you think that the expanding trade between the Federal Republic and the countries of the European Eastern Bloc is in the American interest. We do indeed. On numerous occasions our president has emphasized the great value of the expanding trade between the Western countries and East European countries toward bringing these countries back into the free world. Unfortunately there's not a very solid basis for this trade and we have not been able to advance it greatly. There is much more logical basis for trade between Germany in these countries. Historically Germany furnished these
countries many of their manufactured products and took many of their own materials. And today these countries need many things made in Germany it's quite logical that Germany supplied these products. It's quite logical that Germany improve its relations with these countries in cultural ways and. Political ways within whatever limits they choose to set. As you know they do not have political formal political relations with these countries. Still in the area of business Ambassador what is your opinion of an article published in a leading West German weekly magazine last autumn which was highly critical of the extent and the influence of American business interests in the federal republic now. Do you think that this criticism inherent in the article was justified. No I don't and I don't believe it's reflected by the official attitude of the German government German industry or Germans generally. One occasionally hears this type of
criticism and quite often it comes from some business firms who are under competition from American firms. But basically competition is what makes. Our free enterprise system work and this is recognized by the highest officials of the German government who see an American investment in the spur to to keep German industry itself modern and competitive. Totally our investment here is very small it's only between 3 and 4 percent of all German industry. Our firms employ less than 2 percent of German labor. It's larger in certain special fields but overall one can't say that this is any threat to German industry. Many of our firms for example add products in Germany to Germany which would not otherwise be available. Our firms that make the latest of computers and calculating machines in a bit of this nature
if they didn't have their subsidiaries here such advanced equipment would not be available in Germany. Our company is active here but this is necessary because Germany itself owns no oil abroad. German companies have not shared in the exploitation of oil resources abroad. And it's not a question of whether American companies are here it's a question of which but it's American or British or Dutch companies or here there has to be a foreign participation in the German auto industry. I believe that American investment is by and large welcomed here. It's proved to be good citizens here. Companies usually employ Germans. They abide by the German laws abide by German traditions and in general have been very successful here. But without
creating any resentment or aggravation. Do you find it somewhat ironic that the most direct competition perhaps in the world economic competition is between the two. Leading exponent so a free enterprise system. This is no mere coincidence Mr Snow. This is the best system for countries in situations such as Germany in America finds itself and impair ability to compete in our country drives very large has been the fact that we have continued to encourage the free competitive enterprise system in Germany is devoted to the system the government of Germany is one of its strongest advocates. Even the opposition party in Germany does not advocate nationalization. It advocates free enterprise too. As a final question Ambassador McGee How do you rate the progress of West Germany's democratic development. I think democracy is on a firm base in Germany. Germans
have of course had the origins of democracy for. A very long time. And the development of democracy is short lived as it was in the Weimar Republic gave the Germans experience in democracy. Since the war the Germans are determined not to revert to a system which would permit the seizure of power by an individual or group. And that is why their constitution has such elaborate precautions against this it provides for the decent position of power in Germany to the limit to a very large extent. It is the political campaigns which I have observed in Germany are in the best traditions of the democracies that these political campaigns have been fought fairly. The issues have guided the electorate and the results have been accepted by those who
lost. I think that democracy is thoroughly established in the federal public and the Germans will never give it up.
Series
Crocker Snow Reports From Germany
Episode
Professor McGhee, Ambassador
Producing Organization
WGBH Educational Foundation
Contributing Organization
WGBH (Boston, Massachusetts)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/15-64thtmq8
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip/15-64thtmq8).
Description
Series Description
Crocker Snow Reports for Germany is a series of reports and dicusssions about West German news and culture.
Created Date
1966-06-12
Genres
News
Topics
News
Global Affairs
Media type
Sound
Duration
00:29:38
Embed Code
Copy and paste this HTML to include AAPB content on your blog or webpage.
Credits
Producing Organization: WGBH Educational Foundation
Production Unit: Radio
AAPB Contributor Holdings
WGBH
Identifier: 66-0053-06-12-001 (WGBH Item ID)
Format: 1/4 inch audio tape
Generation: Master
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
Citations
Chicago: “Crocker Snow Reports From Germany; Professor McGhee, Ambassador,” 1966-06-12, WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed March 29, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-64thtmq8.
MLA: “Crocker Snow Reports From Germany; Professor McGhee, Ambassador.” 1966-06-12. WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. March 29, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-64thtmq8>.
APA: Crocker Snow Reports From Germany; Professor McGhee, Ambassador. Boston, MA: WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-64thtmq8