Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Central and Southeastern Europe, Volume XXVI

74. Memorandum of Conversations, Department of State, Washington, September 29, 1956¹

Washington, September 29, 1956

SUBJECT

• German Contribution to European Defense

PARTICIPANTS

• The Secretary
• Ambassador Krekeler, German Embassy
• Deputy Under Secretary Robert Murphy

Ambassador Krekeler called on Mr. Murphy at 10:30 a.m. for a discussion regarding Mr. Murphy’s forthcoming visit to Germany.² The Ambassador said he was glad of this opportunity because he had just received instructions from his government to explain the German position regarding the reported decision by the German Government to support a 12 month period of military service in lieu of 18 months. There was some discussion regarding Chancellor Adenauer’s reaction to the spate of newspaper stories which began in June concerning the so-called “Radford Plan”. Ambassador Krekeler referred to Chancellor Adenauer’s conversation with the Secretary in June³ at which time no intimation was given to the Chancellor of an impending reduction of American military forces. The Ambassador stated that the unexpected batch of sensational press stories on this subject came at a most inopportune moment because of the internal German political situation and that the Chancellor felt it necessary to protect his position because had he not acted on the question of German military service, his entire position might have been undermined. The Ambassador said in strictest confidence that he wanted the Secretary to know that the Chancellor was having difficulties within his own party, especially the Bavarian element. Mr. Murphy told the Ambassador that he appreciated the Chancellor’s difficulties but what he found regrettable was that in special references to the matter the Chancellor had found it necessary to depend on newspaper reports. This might create the impression that German-American relations were not as close and friendly on a Governmental plane as they should be. The Ambassador said he appreciated this point and suggested that Mr. Murphy talk quite frankly about it to the Chancellor when he saw him in Bonn.

The Ambassador said that he would like to personally explain to the Secretary the advice he had received from his Government concerning its decision to apply a 12 month rule to military service. Mr. Murphy said that the Secretary was not in the building at the moment and he thought perhaps he was engaged for the balance of the morning in meetings at his residence. The Ambassador said Mrs. Eleanor Dulles had assured him the Secretary would be available. The Secretary received the Ambassador at his residence at 12:30 p.m.

The Ambassador briefly outlined the reasons leading to the German decision to apply a 12 month rule to military service. He said that he hoped that this action would be understood in its proper light in the United States. The Secretary expressed appreciation for the Ambassador’s explanation.

1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Drafted by Murphy on October 8.
2. On September 25, the Department of State announced that Murphy would represent the United States at the ceremonies opening the new Conference Hall in Berlin on October 3. For text of the announcement, see Department of State Bulletin, October 8, 1956, pp. 550–551. For text of Murphy’s address and messages from Eisenhower, Dulles, and Conant presented at the opening, see ibid., October 29, 1956, pp. 668–671.
3. See Document 55.