WEST GERMANY: HERR BRANDT RECEIVES THUNDROUS APPLAUSE AT FIRST PARLIAMENT MEETING SINCE RESIGNAION OVER EAST GERMAN SPY AFFAIR.

Record ID: 641432

  • Title: WEST GERMANY: HERR BRANDT RECEIVES THUNDROUS APPLAUSE AT FIRST PARLIAMENT MEETING SINCE RESIGNAION OVER EAST GERMAN SPY AFFAIR.
  • Date: 7th May 1974
  • Summary: 1. GV Brandt arriving at meeting 0.13 2. GV Press round Brandt (2 shots) 0.22 3. GV Wehner addresses press 0.30 4. CU Brandt 0.34 5. CU Wehner 0.37 6. GV Press being sent away PAN delegates applaud speech 0.45 7. GV EXT Villa Hammerschmidt 0.50 8. CU Schau ZOOM OUT GV Brandt shaking hands with Ministers 1.02 9. SV President addressing Ministers 1.15 10. CU Schmidt 1.20 11. GV Schau and other Ministers collect documents (2 shots) 1.36 12. SV Schmidt collecting document. 1.42 13. GV Press 1.47 14. GV Ministers enter room and doors close 1.57 Initials BB/0334 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 1974 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BONN, WEST GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA48KZQL66WS3BYZ03QD4IWA1WZ
  • Story Text: Herr Willy Brandt received thunderous applause and red roses when he appeared in parliament in Bonn on Tuesday (7 May) after his sudden resignation the day before as West German Chancellor.

    Herr Brandt responded by saying he took full responsibility for the security lapse which let East German spy Guenter Guillaume bocome one of his closest aides.

    Herr Brandt told the meeting of his Social Democratic Party members in the Bundestag that he had resigned to respect the unwritten rules of democracy and prevent his personal and political integrity being destroyed.

    During the day the government issued a dossier on the activities of Guillaume who was arrested a fortnight ago. He had admitted being a Captain in the East German army.

    The government said a thorough check on Guillaume before he joined the Chancellor in February last year showed no evidence to bar him form the job.

    Herr Walter Scheel, leader of the S.D.P.'s coalition partners, the Free Democrats, has become acting Chancellor. But at Tuesday's meeting the S.D.P. nominated Finance Minister Helmut Schmidt as their candidate for Chancellor and Herr Brandt's likely successor.

    Bundestag leader Herr Herbert Wehner gave Herr Brandt the red roses. Hundreds of telegrams and telephone calls begged him to stay in office.

    The 60-year old outgoing Chancellor won a Nobel Peace Prize for his friendlier policies with East Germany and other Communist states but he was brought down by an East German Spy.

    SYNOPSIS: It was an emotional meeting. Party members received Herr Brandt with thunderous applause.

    Later at the Villa Hammerschmidt offices of President Gustav Heinemann Herr Brandt thanked his government Ministers. Social Democrats from President Heinemann downwards paid tribute to the sixty-year-old Chancellor. President Heinemann then asked remaining members of the Brandt cabinet to continue carrying out their duties until the formation of a new cabinet. Herr Walter Scheel, leader of the Free Democrats -- the S.D.P.'s coalition partners -- has become acting Chancellor.

    Finance Minister Helmut Schmidt is the Social Democratic Party's new candidate for Chancellor and Herr Brandt's likely successor. President Heinemann returned the Ministers' accreditations.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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