51. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State0
2738. Eyes only for the President and the Secretary. My 2737.1 As you know, Adenauer has in past gone off the rails from time to time without any apparent logical reason. He has, however, thereafter behaved himself for a while after being called to task, and I would expect the same to happen this time but for two factors which I find disturbing.
First is fact he seems to have turned for moment at least against Schroeder and Carstens, on whom we can therefore not rely for assist-ance in pressing our case. I shall see Adenauer again for detailed argument re his objections to “principles paper” as soon as I can get them from Foreign Office. (I shall press for early date.) In meantime, I shall see Brentano again to ensure his favorable advice to Chancellor. It was he who was largely instrumental in arousing Chancellor’s latent worries, but problem of course is that given Adenauer’s suspicions and pessimistic nature, it is much easier to awaken his concern than to relieve it.
Second and more important factor is prospect for further damage which Chancellor’s State visit to Paris will afford. I hope I achieved some result this afternoon, but I have no illusion that my persuasions [Page 149] will equal those of De Gaulle. Further inoculation is needed, and I can think of no safer treatment than another visit to Washington, which might easily come about as an outgrowth of correspondence which Adenauer says he is initiating. If a pretext is needed, I would think an honorary degree could be arranged, and I have little doubt that the Chancellor would accept your invitation for a personal talk.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/5–1462. Secret; Priority. Passed to the White House.↩
- Document 50.↩