As the monetary crisis abated last week, European statesmen were pleasantly surprised at the relative mildness of its immediate economic after effects. Thanks mainly to France's severe austerity program, the franc regained some of its strength, and the free world's finely balanced monetary system was spared, at least for the moment, a major upheaval (see BUSINESS). But the political consequences of the crisis continued to reverberate in half a dozen capitals, The West Germans had defended the Deutsche Mark against the combined efforts of France, Britain and the U.S. to bring about the mark's upward revaluation, a move that would have relieved the pressure on the ailing franc and pound. In the process, the Germans displayed an independence—and a political muscle—unknown in the years since their defeat in 1945. Other Europeans found that display disturbing. As West German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Willy Brandt lamented: "Old, not to say atavistic instincts of distrust were awakened in Europe."
Leaks in Bonn. Many of Bonn's allies were a little spooked by the prospect of a newly assertive West Germany. To a degree, their uneasiness was a reflex born of two world wars instigated by the Germans in the 20th century. The Bonn government had not helped matters in the current crisis. Usually, it is, if anything, overly concerned about European sensibilities. But this time, the West Germans inexplicably forgot their manners. A main offender was Conrad Ahlers, the former Der Spiegel newsmagazine editor who now is the Federal Republic's deputy spokesman. During the Bonn meeting of the world's financial authorities two weeks ago, Ahlers offered injudicious portrayals of some of the Western representatives' behavior behind the closed doors, characterizing them as "uncouth," "ill-bred" and "impudent."
Ahlers even leaked a report that in a message to Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson had attempted to blackmail Bonn into raising the value of the Deutsche Mark by threatening to withdraw Britain's 48,500-man Army of the Rhine from West Germany. In the House of Commons, Wilson flatly denounced Ahlers' story as "quite false." "I deplore this," said the Prime Minister, adding: "I have never known such a thing in four years of communications with over 100 heads of government."