Kurt Waldheim

The article “Kohl Invites Waldheim to Lunch, Stirs Anger” (March 27) alleges that Austrian President Waldheim concealed his Nazi past. The reference to a Nazi past implies membership and support for the NSDAP (Nazi party) and Nazi doctrine. Compare this to the NS documents that describe Waldheim as being “particularly hateful against our movement” and to be considered an unreliable person.

You are also repeating the false accusations against Waldheim concerning an involvement in the deportation of Yugoslav civilians to labor camps. All investigations in Waldheim’s wartime years, like the one undertaken by the International Commission of Military Historians called into being by the Austrian government, have shown this allegation as being unfounded. The report of the British Ministry of Defense states that “Dr. Waldheim was a mere junior staff officer and that there is no evidence of relevant delegated executive authority or of any causative overt act or omission from which his guilt of a war crime may be inferred.”

FRIEDRICH HOESS

Ambassador of Austria

Washington