World Notes TERRORISM

The rapid political and economic unification of the two Germanys is paying an unexpected dividend: a combined attack on terrorism. After pooling information from West Germany and the impounded files of the now defunct East German secret police, the Stasi, East German authorities this month arrested seven people believed to be members of West Germany's notorious Red Army Faction, whose bloody campaign claimed more than 20 lives between 1970 and 1978.

The most notable arrest came on June 6, when police seized Susanne Albrecht, 39, one of some two dozen R.A.F. members on West Germany's most wanted list. Albrecht, who is married to an East German scientist, is accused of taking part in the 1977 killings of Jurgen Ponto, chairman of the Dresdner Bank, and industrialist Hanns-Martin Schleyer. East German Interior Minister Peter- Michael Diestel said the arrests provided evidence of a "devilish connection" between the R.A.F. and the Stasi -- a connection that is now certain to be further investigated.