The framework for negotiations leading to the Moscow Treaty in 1970

The new 'Ostpolitik' and the friendship treaty between West Germany and the Soviet Union came about because of change sin the international systems in Europe. The Federal Republic of Germany responded to new conditions by dev ising a policy of 'aktive Anpassung' which it began pursuing as early as th e Kiesinger/Brandt coalition government. Confidential talks, in which Germa ny made concessions in return for overall Soviet restraint, helped to pave the way for later negotiations with Moscow. After the SRD-FDP coalition gov ernment has been formed in 1969, Egon Bahr enlarged the framework within wh ich negotiations were conducted. Notably, it linked West Germany's recogniz ing the borders set by Stalin to the Soviet Union's readiness to accept a l etter raising the issue of German unification. Equally important was the co nstruction of a bridge (by the German Foreign Office, not Egon Bahr) linkin g Soviet non-aggression to German acceptance of the borders. The political significance of the connection between the ratification of the treaty with Moscow in 1970 which led to the more satisfactory Berlin Agreement cannot b e denied. From the German point of view, the Moscow Treaty provided a 'modu s vivendi' having German unification as its ultimate goal. The question doe s arise, however, whether the Soviet union was, perhaps, prepared to make e ven greater concessions at the time.