Sordidness in Bonn

Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s government suddenly finds itself in deep trouble at home, accused by the political opposition of having “deceived” both the West German public and its American ally over the matter of German involvement in a chemical-warfare plant in Libya. The parliament wants a full report by Feb. 15 on what the government knew about the illicit help that West German companies gave Libya, and when it knew it. The answer so far seems to be that the Kohl government knew plenty, and at a much earlier date than it first chose to admit.

The public part of this growing scandal began on Jan. 1, when the New York Times reported that materials and advice from West German firms had been instrumental in helping Col. Moammar Kadafi’s regime build a facility that Libya says is for manufacturing drugs, but that the United States charges is for making chemical weapons. Officials in Bonn not only flatly denied the charge but also indignantly claimed that their country was being victimized by an “intolerable media campaign.” Officials further alleged that the government knew nothing of the Libyan connection until President Reagan mentioned it to Kohl at a Washington meeting on Nov. 15, 1988. This explanation was widely accepted in West Germany, with many voices raised to complain that a biased U.S. press was unfairly beating up on the Federal Republic.

In fact, as Kohl’s chief of staff told the Bundestag this week in the latest official version of what took place, the Foreign Ministry was told as early as last May 18 by the U.S. Embassy in Bonn that three West German firms were helping Libya build a chemical-warfare plant. By Aug. 2 one of the government’s own intelligence services reported its findings about West German involvement. Kohl himself is now said to have seen the evidence by Oct. 20, nearly a month before he came away from his meeting with Reagan “horrified,” as an aide later described it, at what he had learned.

These belated acknowledgements make hash of the web of denials, accusations, equivocations and distortions offered by West German officials since Jan. 1. The government’s claim this week that until now it lacked legal evidence to move against the West German suppliers leaves many issues unaddressed. Why did Kohl pretend ignorance about what was going on long after he in fact knew? What was behind his professed anger and indignation when he responded to disclosures about the German role in helping Libya to acquire a chemical-warfare capacity? Finally, as troubled and thoughtful Germans themselves are asking, how could Bonn have failed to move swiftly and decisively, given the tragic and terrible historical association that exists between Germany and poison gas? How could it not have been especially sensitive to the danger that German companies were helping one of Israel’s most fanatic enemies to acquire chemical weapons?

The Federal Republic has clearly not been well served by the Kohl government’s lack of good judgment and subsequent lack of candor. Certainly it isn’t surprising--it happens all over the world--that some businesses should try to get away with breaking laws in order to increase profits. The real shock comes when a democratic government is seen to be so indifferent, dilatory, deceptive and otherwise irresponsible in the face of compelling evidence about these sordid activities.