Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XV, Berlin Crisis, 1962–1963

155. Letter From President Kennedy to Governing Mayor Brandt⁰

Washington, November 14, 1962.

My Dear Mr. Mayor: Thank you for your kind letter of October 29.¹

I think that on the plebiscite question you should continue to try to develop unified German proposals, as we agreed in our conversation here last month.² Until we have a clearer picture of how Soviet policy on Berlin is going to develop in the next few weeks I do not believe that we can arrive at a definitive position on the timing of such a plebiscite. With regard to access questions I agree that we should give high priority to resolving differences in viewpoint as quickly as possible. It is imperative that the contingency planning in this field be agreed all around.

It is also too early to tell what effect recent events may have on a new round of negotiations with the Soviets. The first thing is to get some further progress in the fulfillment of our Cuban understanding, but after that, I agree, there may be some chance of more realistic talks, and we on our side must be ready for them.

With every good wish,

Sincerely,

John F. Kennedy³

0. Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204. Secret. The source text bears no drafting information.
1. In this letter Brandt congratulated the President on his handling of the Cuban crisis and urged, if the Cuban situation allowed, the implementation of decisions concerning access to Berlin and the holding of a plebiscite. (Ibid.)
2. See Document 128.
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.