In late developments in the telecommunications trade row between Bonn and Brussels (see front and page five) German Economics Minister Guenter Rexrodt denied that Germany was violating European Community law and said others had been aware of the legal position in Germany created by the 1954 treaty, the US said that Germany had not yet formally signed the bilateral telecommunications deal, and it was pointed out that Germany appeared to have resorted to Article 234 of the Treaty of Rome to justify its perfidy – Article 234 says The rights and obligations arising from agreements concluded before the entry into force of this Treaty between one or more Member States on the one hand, and one or more third countries on the other, shall not be affected by the provisions of this Treaty, but goes on to say that where such earlier agreements are incompatible with the Treaty of Rome, the member state concerned shall take all appropriate steps to eliminate the incompatibilities established – a duty the Commission could argue that Bonn has failed to fulfil for the past 36 years.
