127. Editorial Note
On October 2 McGeorge Bundy visited Chancellor Adenauer at Cadenabbia. Reports on this meeting are fragmentary. [text not declassified] In a memorandum to the President, dated October 4, Bundy stated that the Chancellor had told him he was in favor of a plebiscite and of bargaining with the east Germans to improve conditions for human contacts across the wall in exchange for expanded trade. Adenauer believed the plebiscite would help Berlin morale, but its wording must be considered carefully. The Chancellor also reported that the east Germans had already made a proposal on the question of contacts. (Memorandum for the President; Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Germany)
On November 5 Dowling transmitted a longer account, which included consideration of the relative strength of the Soviet Union, China, and Europe and a discussion of French-U.S. differences on nuclear weapons and the location of nuclear weapons in Germany. This account [Page 344] also included a summary of the conversation between Bundy and Adenauer on the plane trip back to Bonn. After dwelling at length on European unity and the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Adenauer and Bundy briefly discussed Berlin. The Chancellor agreed that mitigation of the situation must be sought, but there was no evidence to indicate that the Soviet Union was prepared to pay a major price for recognition of east Germany. (Ibid., Trips and Conferences Series, McGeorge Bundy Trip to Europe)