Office of the Historian

18. Message From President Nixon to West German Chancellor Brandt1

Washington, March 3, 1973.

Dear Mr. Chancellor:

I greatly appreciated your letter of March 22 and your courtesy in informing me about the decision you and Prime Minister Heath have taken with respect to the currency crisis. I want to put my own considerations before you. There is no question about the desirability of ending the new currency crisis as rapidly as possible, all the more so as we believe that the exchange rates established some weeks ago are essentially sound. At the same time I cannot agree that the only criterion that should be considered in putting forward a solution is whether it contributes to the strengthening of European integration. As you know, I have strongly supported European integration and intend to continue to do so, but as I believe we both agree, European integration should also be seen as a step towards increased Atlantic cooperation. It therefore seems to me that any proposal to deal with the present currency crisis can only be put forward on the basis of full consideration with countries whose interests are involved—including especially the United States and Japan. I would therefore hope that before any proposals are made final we will have an opportunity to express our views. I look forward to hearing your reaction and I want to assure you about our commitment to European integration and Atlantic partnership.

I am writing along similar lines to Prime Minister Heath.

With best wishes.

Richard Nixon
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  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 53, Country Files, Europe, Monetary Crisis, March 1973. Top Secret. Another copy of the message with Nixon’s initials indicates that it was sent on an urgent basis via backchannel from Kissinger to Bahr. (Ibid.)↩
  2. Document 15. ↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears Nixon’s typed signature with an indication that he signed the original.↩