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

220. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bator) to President Johnson¹

Washington, July 13, 1967, 9:30 a.m.

SUBJECT

• Your Meeting with George McGhee, 5:30 p.m., July 14²

George will want to talk to you about the German defense cuts. Specifically, he will ask for guidance on what to say to Kiesinger when he returns to Bonn.

The Germans have clearly got the message that we are unhappy. They are coming in on every channel with assurances that there has been no decision on troop cuts. In any case, it will take them the rest of the summer to figure out how best to save the money without getting into a war with us.

In light of the above, my strong instinct would be to play the hand in low key—for the time being. If we keep hitting them hard during the next several weeks, I think we simply play into the hands of the Gaullists in Bonn, whose strongest card is German pride and vanity (“it’s high time to assert independence from big brother, etc.”). A secondary point is that we badly need German cooperation in the international money negotiations between now and September.

If you agree with the above, you will want to instruct George (who may be in a rather combative mood vis-à-vis the Germans) to play it softly, and to say to Kiesinger that:

• —You were deeply concerned by the press reports about the defense budget and troop cuts.
• —Any unilateral action would undo all the work in the Trilaterals. It would certainly play into the hands of those in the US who want to reduce the American commitment in Europe.
• —You were reassured by Kiesinger’s message about no decision on troops and about his intention to consult before doing anything that will affect the common defense.³
• —We sympathize with German worries about the state of their economy. (George might also say to Kiesinger—though not as coming from the President—that the economists in Washington are puzzled about the case for budget balancing at a time of recession in Germany, especially given the large German balance-of-payments surplus.)
• —You look forward to seeing the Chancellor in Washington in September. Until then, you hope that the two governments will remain in very close touch.

I would advise against you taking personal notice of the press stories that we didn’t consult about the aircraft rotation. As you know from my memo of yesterday,⁴ I have already made the point through the Embassy here.

At Tab A is a good cable from Marty Hillenbrand, McGhee’s No. 2 in Bonn.⁵

In case you want us, Walt and I will be standing by.

Francis

1. Source: Johnson Library, Bator Papers, Chronological File. Confidential.
2. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting with Ambassador McGhee took place on July 14 from 6 to 6:30 p.m. (Ibid.) No record of the discussion, in which Bator also participated, was found.
3. See footnote 2, Document 219.
4. Not further identified.
5. Not found.