Slow-Motion Diplomacy

Nobody hurried. Aboard his blue overnight train from Bonn, Ludwig Erhard snoozed for two hours on a siding along the Mosel so as not to get to Paris too soon. When he finally arrived at the Elysee Palace, Charles de Gaulle kept him waiting another 28 minutes.

Then the French President strolled out to greet the West German leader with a smile, a handshake --and a glottal "Bis Aufgleich Herr Bundeskanzler [See you later, Mr. Chancellor]." With that they adjourned, to meet again an hour later for a leisurely lunch.

The slow-motion diplomacy in Paris last week was not for lack of topics to discuss. But such is the basically an tagonistic state of Franco-German relations these days that any discussion between Europe's two most fidgety "friends" almost inevitably produces major disagreements. What saved last week's semiannual session was Charles de Gaulle's grand finesse.

Erhard wanted assurance that De Gaulle, on his visit to Russia this spring, would not recognize East Germany or compromise the disputed Oder-Neisse border. Privately, De Gaulle was quite willing to offer such assurances. Not publicly, since that might dampen his Moscow welcome. The solution? A graceful (but fleeting) toast in champagne (Laurent Perrier '55) to "a united Germany."

The future of the Common Market was another subject to avoid. The French had agreed at Luxembourg last month to return to their vacant seat at Common Market headquarters largely because of some unexpectedly effective prodding from West Germany. Erhard thought that it might be a good time to try for some progress toward political union of the Six. Some observers were even speculating that France might be willing to let Britain reapply for Market membership. But le grand Charles does not yet need English allies. He smoothly informed Erhard that the Common Market's first order of business was to "implement" the Luxembourg agreement--in other words: don't tempt France to walk out again.

Despite the lack of any major policy agreements, both French and German diplomats were cheered by the relaxed tone of the meetings. Ministers discussed down-to-earth topics such as the joint construction of a military land vehicle to supplant the Jeep and ways to standardize tax and social security systems. Said one German official: "The Franco-German couple has given up the bedroom and now meets in the kitchen."

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