Word: bonnes
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Schmidt has been successful in irritating each and all of his European partners, it should also be pointed out that European unity is a key concern of the Bonn government. Many convinced Europeanists hoped that the growing entente between Giscard d'Estaing and Schmidt would give way to a discreet Franco-German directorate that would carry the idea of European unity beyond its present customs union status. Unfortunately, Schmidt lost his partner less than six months ago. Giscard d'Estaing's pro-European ideas were fiercely opposed by conservative Gaullists, ever so jealous of French sovereignty. Depending on the Gaullists...
Despite the numerous difficulties encountered along the way, Bonn continues to push for European unity. European cooperation is unanimously supported by the German people. Unlike France and Great Britain, the direct election of a European Parliament is not a controversial issue in Germany. Most Germans would accept a reduction of national sovereignty if it would spur European integration. Bonn considers the defense of German economic interests to be far more important than a French-style reaffirmation of national independence--a vague concept which has little meaning or support in the Germany of today...
With 31 Soviet divisions on the German border, Bonn is understandably concerned with security. Here, the vital German-American relationship has changed in style but not in substance. Both Brandt and Schmidt have pursued policies more independent from Washington than either Adenauer or Erhard. For example, harsh words were exchanged between Bonn and Washington during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict. On the one had, Brandt was irritated by Washington's failure to consult its Allies during the conflict; on the other hand, Washington criticized West European refusal to provide the American airlift with logistical support. Washington added that developments...
...lectured President Ford on the need for arms standardisation on both sides of the Atlantic. Germans arms procurement is no longer completely American-oriented and Schmidt was successful in renegotiating the financing of American troops in Germany on a more equitable basis. There have also been serious differences between Bonn and Washington over nuclear proliferation. Despite American criticism concerning the lack of adequate safeguards, Bonn is going ahead with its plans to sell nuclear technology to Brazil. Bonn understands Washington's fear that nuclear by-products could be used to fabricate nuclear weapons, but it also sees no reason...
Beyond these differences of opinion, both Bonn and Washington agree that the ties between both countries have never been stronger. Bonn remains firmly convinced that "there is no European security without the United States...