Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XV, Germany and Berlin

208. Telegram From the Mission in Berlin to the Department of State¹

Berlin, April 6, 1967, 2250Z.

1356. Vipto 90. Subject: Vice President’s visit: Private Kiesinger comments on US–FRG relations.²

1. Both Chancellor and Vice President expressed their satisfaction with today’s discussions. Latter stated that he thought they had closed a chapter of misunderstandings between the two countries which had existed over the past year or so. They had come out of a “dim atmosphere” back into “the clear air.” He considered today’s talks a political success for both sides.

2. Following the discussion, Chancellor took the Vice President privately aside and, in great earnestness, told him he would do nothing to impair US–FRG relations. Nothing was more important to him than friendship and close cooperation with the US. He would not heed others in Europe who would divide the US and FRG. The Chancellor said discussions during the day had been “like sunlight bursting through the clouds.” President Johnson must know of his loyalty and steadfastness—he could be counted on as our friend and partner. As a result of today’s talks he felt happy and confident. He was particularly reassured re NPT. He would help however we asked re liquidity and other problems, including the Kennedy Round. He desperately wanted the friendship of President Johnson and America.

3. Vice President thanked him for his obviously sincere expression and told him he would so inform President Johnson. He (the VP) wanted Chancellor to know that we stood by our friends, kept our commitments, and that FRG could count on us.

Morris

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 67 D 586, CF 142. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Repeated to Paris for the Vice President.
2. Humphrey and Kiesinger met twice on April 5. During the morning session, they discussed U.S.-German relations. In the afternoon, they talked about the Non-Proliferation Treaty, East-West relations, and a Kiesinger-Johnson meeting. Reporting cables on these discussions are ibid. Humphrey summarized his impressions of these talks in telegram Vipto 85 from Berlin, April 6. (Ibid.)