CONGRESS HALL AND CDU POSTER: CROWD: KIESINGER ARRIVES: STRAUSS SPEAKS: ERHARD SEATED: KIESINGER SPEAKS.



TRANSCRIPTS: STRAUSS: 'FOR SEVERAL REASONS, I ACCEPTED THE INVITATION TO SPEAK HERE AT THE OPENING OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, AS LAND CHAIRMAN OF THE CHRISTIAN SOCIAL UNION, WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM.



KIESINGER: 'LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OF COURSE I WAS NOT SO STUPID AS TO IMAGINE THAT (IT WOULD BE EASY) WITH THE MOST DIFFICULT TEAM-COALITION TEAM-WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC. IT WAS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF HAVING ONE CART-HORSE WITH A LITTLE PONY BY THE SIDE OF IT, BUT TWO CART-HORSES. IT WAS JUST THAT ONE OF THEM ALWAYS WANTED TO PULL TO THE LEFT, AND THAT MEANT THAT ONE HAD TO KEEP A STRONG GRIP ON THE REINS TO STEER A STRAIGHT COURSE.'




Initials MJS/V/MR/LVP



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WEST GERMAN CHANCELLOR KURT GEORG KIESINGER OPENED THE ELECTION CONGRESS OF HIS CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT DORTMUND, IN THE NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA REGION YESTERDAY. (31 AUGUST)
IN TOUGH-LINE SPEECHES, BOTH HE AND FINANCE MINISTER FRANZ JOSEF STRAUSS, WHO WAS PRESENT AS A GUEST, WERE SHARPLY CRITICAL ON THE CONDUCT OF THEIR PARTNERS IN THE PRESENT COALITION GOVERNMENT - THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS.

HERR STRAUSS TOLD THE AUDIENCE:
REFERRING TO THE RECENT VISIT BY SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARLIAMENTARY LEADER HELMUT SCHMIDT TO MOSCOW, THE FINANCE MINISTER SAID IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO GO TO MOSCOW TO FIND OUT WHAT THE RUSSIANS WERE THINKING ABOUT GERMANY. TO LOUD CHEERING, HE ADDED THAT IF THERE WAS STILL TENSION BETWEEN BONN AND MOSCOW, IT WAS BECAUSE WEST GERMANY WAS NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT DEMANDS WHICH WOULD MEAN BETRAYAL OF THE GERMAN NATION.

MUCH OF CHANCELLOR KIESINGER'S ADDRESS ALSO DEALT WITH RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION. WEST GERMANY, HE SAID, HAD ALWAYS BEEN READY FOR UNDERSTANDING, BUT MOSCOW MUST TAKE SOME STEPS FROM THEIR SIDE.

IN THE CHANCELLOR'S VIEW, FOREIGN MINISTER AND SOCIAL DEMOCRAT LEADER WILLY BRANDT HAD BEEN WRONG TO STATE RECENTLY THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO STATES WERE CLOSE TO NORMALISATION.

ON THE PROBLEMS OF GOVERNING WITH A COALITION MINISTRY, HE COMMENTED:
DR. KIESINGER ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD NOT TAKEN ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST SOCIAL DEMOCRAT ECONOMICS MINSTER KARL SCHILLER ON THE MARK-REVALUATION ISSUE BECAUSE HE WISHED TO MAINTAIN THE COALITION INTACT UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.