European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 25, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 the stars and stripes Tom Wicker tuesday july 25, 1978 Carter human rights policy had its successes the vote of Grenada finally brought into being this past week an inter Ameri can court of human rights that has Bee nine years in winning hemisphere approval. A Day or so later. Argentina Learned that the i United states Export import Bank had turned Down a 270-million loan for electrical equipment for a hydroelectric project on the upper Parana River. And inthe same week a bolivian election was annulled by a court Only to be followed by military coup. At least one connecting link Between Al these events was president Carter s human rights policy. There Are those who think that policy is pushed too erratically not hard enough against strategically important allies like South Korea and per haps too Sharii for the Good of soviet dissidents like Anatoly Shch Aransky and after a year and a half and despite setbacks like the bolivian coup the Carter human rights policy has had its modest successes  of those most involved in that policy think its major achievement has Keenan improved world climate of human  just recently the Council on hemispheric affairs in releasing a country by country assessment of human rights inthe americas expressed some reservations about the administration s performance but concluded the Carter administration through its human rights policy has made a significant contribution to the cause of humanity in the hemisphere. We have now entered a period where no totalitarian re Gime can victimize it s own people with impunity or in  United states s signature in june 1977 finally led the Way toward the Neces sary ratifications Grenada s was the Lith and deciding vote on the hemispheric court of human rights whether con Gress will now ratify what Carter signed remains to be seen. Argentina s dismal re Cord on human rights the worst in the hemisphere More than 3.500 acknowledged political prisoners and probably at Leas that Many More unacknowledged evoked the exit Bank s refusal to make the $270-million loan. And human rights pressures from Washington and elsewhere were pushing Bolivia toward a return to civilian Rule until the latest military coup turned Back the clock. Nor is it Only in this hemisphere that the human rights policy is being Felt. When president Mobutu of Zaire recently declared an amnesty for political prisoners including a former foreign minister hews completing his end of an arrangement worked out when the United states agree to ferry French troops into Shaba province to repel last Spring s Katan Gese invaders. And although nobody in Washington claims specific credit it seems Likely that the improved climate of human rights had something to do with Indonesia s re cent release of 10,000 political prisoners although there Are at least 20,000 More in indonesian jails. But one obvious and prob ably effective human rights move an american embargo on ugandan Coffee has not yet been taken by the Carter and  is among the nations of this hemis phere nonetheless where the human rights policy has been most heavily Felt. Direct cause and effect Are not always traceable but it s reasonable to suppose for example that elections were held i Peru and Ecuador sooner than they might have been without human rights pres sures. The improved climate surely influenced the military to abide by the re sults of elections in the dominican Republic. The liberalization of the Pinochet re Gime in Chile though far from Complete has been measurable and when an Ameri can grand jury hands Down expected indictments in the assassination in washing ton of former chilean foreign minister Orlando letelier they May so wok the kill ing to the chilean government As to endanger general Pinochet s personal position atop the military Junta. And almost any conceivable successor it s believed Here. Would be More concerned for human right than he has been. Notable Progress also has been made i Brazil where after 14 years of military Rule a Back to the Barracks movements said to be gathering Force in the army and among those who originally Welcome authoritarian government and Long sup ported it. But for All these gains the Coupin Bolivia and the situation in Argentina underscore the warnings of human rights this year.  Here that the task has hardly be religious Freedom has gun. Even in this hemisphere. Seven secret prison Campt if amnesty International estimates that As Alende Are full to Overom Many As 15,000 people have disappeared in though Gen. Jorge Rafael Vuk i Argentina since the military coup of becomes president on am l � March 1976. Or. Oscar Alende a former step toward the Rule of Law 5s.governor of Buenos Aires visited the unit Here is for continuing rented de states recently and said 1,000 people Lenic. Have died by right Wing terrorist action Man. Lately there have been disturbing press reports about the hardships living conditions morale and effectiveness of our armed forces committed to  Carter administration has con firmed its commitment to nato which since 1950 has successfully deterred soviet aggression Westward. There has been much news Media speculation that the ominous arms buildup of the Warsaw pact now renders nato s Posi Tion precarious. For Many years convinced of the vital necessity for the defense of Europe and realizing the need for . Participation 1have paid an annual visit to nato and shape supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. The present journey began at the head quarters of the seventh army at Heidel Berg where Gen. George Blanchard and his staff gave an excellent realistic Brief ing on the status of our ground forces an the state of the red forces opposing them. There can be no reasonable doubt that Russia has not shifted from a defensive military posture to an ominous offensive capability. Next came a visit to training areas andean Opportunity to observe and interview army troops of All ranks and grades. From these observations and interviews conclude the seventh army in Europe is More effective than i have Ever seen it or any other peacetime army. The realization of growing might of Warsaw pact forces across the Wall has not discourage them but spurred their Effort to compensate for unequal Quantity with Superior Quality. Its leadership is Superb at All Levels. I ? training is As realistic As some limitations on Man Euver areas firing ranges and missile and ammunition allow ances permit. Troop morale is surprisingly High considering the conditions under which sol Diers work and they and their families live. Germany for the average i. Is definitely a hardship assignment. Most of them would much prefer duty in the i snot so Long ago. Duty in Germany was eagerly sought and Many applied for extended Tours. No More. The reasons Are obvious and understandable. A Dollar now buys about two Marks Hal the former Exchange rate. The German Economy is nourishing. It is no longer pos sible for a Soldier paid in dollars to com Pete with the prosperous germans for goods and services. Quarters especially for married sol Diers in the lower grades Are inadequate on military posts rents in civilian areas Are exorbitant forcing cited inadequately Hei  appealing tour Deryee travel through vacations to Italy France land Are no longer economic constraints. One cheerful fact Wuch Plains in convincing detail Volunteer army works. Resent Volunteer Force beb " More trainable. Awol and courts martial Are a troops Are More dedicated Sion. There is a realization there Are 400,000 . Won now resident in , tempting hostages to r the Able leadership of Koumany has done and is within its resources to  posture along the the ultimate and rests with our Congress _�,., for Only they can provide a sources now dangerously u Losa Ogum the Opl Ntoni Tipert Ted in Ott tilt put i errant Dutott in 10 m come Fertad it  to no sir Lii or in United so lilt