"No Self -Tormenting Thoughts"

Despite the talk of crisis in relations between the U.S. and Europe, German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher takes an optimistic view of the situation. He has held his office for six years and is head of the small but important Free Democratic Party. It is the coalition partner of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt's Social Democrats. Genscher will accompany Schmidt to Moscow on June 30 for talks with Leonid Brezhnev. In an interview with TIME Correspondent B. William Mader, Genscher outlined the German view:

On the troubled state of relations between the U.S. and its allies: We in the alliance have no reason to indulge in self-tormenting thoughts or in meekness. On the contrary, we must uphold with self-confidence, courage and decision our joint goals and ideals. Our alliance is not an interchangeable military alliance in the old style. It rests on an identity of values and interests.

We must retain our perspective of what we jointly want and what we have jointly achieved. Our alliance is a living organism: it has time and again proved its vitality through its ability to adapt to changed conditions. After Europe's economic recovery it will increasingly become a political factor as well. This means no weakening but a strengthening of the alliance owing to European unification.

On the European Community's declaration about the Middle East: It is the joint aim for us and for the U.S. to work toward a permanent and just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Europeans are attempting to work toward this joint goal.

Regarding American complaints that West Germany recently has been a reluctant ally: If there were any such complaints, they were totally unfounded and untenable. We in Europe bear the brunt of Western defense. From the very beginning, we have helped to initiate and to bear responsibility for all important decisions taken by the alliance.

On speculation by some West Europeans that the U.S. Is politically and militarily weaker than the Soviet Union: The efforts made by the U.S. to ensure equilibrium are considerable. Nobody knows that better than the Europeans. The decision on medium-range missile systems underlines our joint resolve not to accept Soviet superiority.

Anticipating his trip, with Chancellor Schmidt, to Moscow for discussions with Leonid Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders: Particularly under the impact of heightened international tension, there is a need for the dialogue between East and West. It is important in these times to underscore the firm position of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Western alliance. We think it necessary that the Soviet Union should at last declare its readiness to enter without prior conditions into negotiations on medium-range systems, and that possibility should be sought for disarmament and arms control in other sectors. We, the West, want equilibrium at the lowest possible level of armaments. But we shall not hesitate to secure equilibrium by our own efforts if it cannot be achieved through disarmament.

Regarding concerns by some observers of international affairs that West Germany has begun moving toward a position between the two superpowers: We are part of the West. We share the ideals of the Western democracies. Our place lies therefore by the side of the U.S. and not between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Precisely because we Germans Eve in a divided country at the meeting point between the two military alliances, we appreciate the indispensable value of the Atlantic alliance.

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