‘We are striving for a democratic Europe with a high standard of living, with social justice and a culture and science that will continue to be a model fort he rest of the world. A strengthened Europe can act as a better balance in ratio to the USA—not in opposition to the USA but in cooperation with our American friends. In our relationship to the countries of Eastern Europe we must be prepared to exploit every realistic possibility of development and understanding. We must always keep in mind that the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe also belong to Europe. By following policies aimed at increased contact and a gradual improvement of relations between East and West we can—provided that the Atlantic unanimity remains intact—gradually create a climate for negotiations held in an atmosphere of reality on the problems lying at the base of the tension in the world, in the first place the right of self-determination of the German people.’