THIS TRANSLATION OF A WEST GERMAN PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE DOCUMENT TRACES THE SCHLEYER AFFAIR FROM THE RED ARMY FACTION ASSAULT OF SCHLEYER AND HIS BODYGUARDS IN SEPTEMBER 1977 THROUGH 6 WEEKS OF UNSUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS, ON TO THE SKYJACKING AND RESCUE OF THE LUFTHANSA FLIGHT, AND THE MURDER OF SCHLEYER IN FRANCE. GOVERNMENT DECISIONMAKING IN THE FACE OF BOTH HOSTAGE SITUATIONS IS OUTLINED, ALONG WITH THE TERRORISTS' RESPONSE TO ATTEMPTS BY THE FEDERAL POLICE TO LOCATE AND LIBERATE SCHLEYER. THE TEXTS OF MESSAGES SENT TO AND BY BOTH SCHLEYER AND HIS ABDUCTORS ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE MAPS OF THE KIDNAP SCENE AND SUMMARIES OF THE INVESTIGATORY OUTCOMES OF THE RELATED HOSTAGE-TAKINGS. SCHLEYER WAS TAKEN BY LEFTIST TERRORISTS, WHO THEN ATTEMPTED TO RANSOM HIM FOR 11 COMPATRIOTS HELD BY THE WEST GERMANS, INCLUDING THE REMNANTS OF THE BAADER-MEINHOF GANG. AFTER WEEKS OF UNSUCCESSFUL DEMANDS AND COUNTERDEMANDS BY THE KIDNAPPERS, ARAB TERRORISTS HIJACKED A FRANKFURT-BOUND LUFTHANSA JETLINER AND DEMANDED THAT THE WEST GERMAN GOVERNMENT GIVE IN TO SCHLEYER'S ABDUCTORS. IN THE FINAL WEEK, A GERMAN BORDER POLICE UNIT FLEW INTO MOGADISCIO, SOMALIA, AND LIBERATED THE CAPTIVE PASSENGERS. LATER, 3 OF THE 11 JAILED WEST GERMAN TERRORISTS COMMITTED SUICIDE AND THE RED ARMY FACTION EXECUTED SCHLEYER. FOR GERMAN ORIGINAL, SEE NCJ-52970. (KDL)