Proposed "spy swap"

Germanys agree on spy swap in sign of improving relations.

EAST and West Germany have set in motion a big spy swap, as a sign of rapidly improving relations, it was announced yesterday.

While there is ample precedent for spy swaps during the cold war, in those cases the United States usually got something in return.

Thompson's release came in 1978 in a three-way spy swap.

He said yesterday: 'I was told that the buying-out of political prisoners by West Germany and the spy swaps were immoral and against the law.'

East and West Germany have set in motion a big spy swap, involving 28 agents, as a sign of rapidly improving relations.

For the last four decades, many of the most spectacular East-West espionage stories involving spy swaps, defections and betrayals have been set in Germany.

Mr. Zacharski returned to Poland after a 1985 spy swap and rejoined the secret services.