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

42. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany¹

Washington, May 21, 1964, 10:17 p.m.

3307. Bonn’s 4223.² At your meeting with Erhard May 22, in addition to letter of May 4, you may convey orally following message from President:

1. Express to Chancellor President’s appreciation for Chancellor’s letter of May 8³ and President’s pleasure that he and Chancellor are in close agreement on important problems discussed in their exchange of correspondence.

2. FYI. Agree it would be desirable to convey to Chancellor message from President regarding reunification. With respect to your suggestion, however, that we advise Chancellor of what our attitude will be in Ambassadorial Group, we shall need to know more what British, and Germans as well, have in mind regarding a possible Four Power Council and what its relation to German paper might be before we decide what position we will take. End FYI.

You should tell Chancellor President has followed personally discussions of German initiative on reunification particularly those which have taken place most recently at The Hague.⁴ He feels that frank discussions which our representatives have had have helped us to understand more fully each other’s point of view and preoccupations at present time. These discussions have made clear complexities of any initiative and importance for us to have most careful consideration and groundwork laid. President wants to assure Chancellor of his personal interest in goal of reunification through self-determination and his view that we should continue to consider jointly with our Allies what we may realistically do to make progress in this area.

3. Tell Chancellor we most appreciative of his cooperative attitude during Secretary McNamara’s visit⁵ regarding both continuation of military offset and expression of FRG support for our policy in South Viet Nam. We believe these are matters of great importance to both of us. We hope that FRG will be able take early action to provide medical unit or other concrete demonstration of support for Viet Nam.

4. Chancellor’s letter of May 8 demonstrates how close is our common view of importance of aid to developing countries. Germany and US are donors of aid in more countries than any other contributor. Special reasons exist, therefore, for our governments to work closely together on development assistance. Accordingly, President will wish to discuss problems and prospects of our respective aid programs during Chancellor’s forthcoming visit to Washington. In meantime consortia on India, Pakistan and Turkey will be meeting and it is our hope that the FRG will do its best to improve amounts and terms of its pledges to these three countries which are showing way in mounting major self-help efforts.

5. President’s message on Israeli tanks follows in separate telegram.⁶

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files,POL 32–4 GER. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Drafted by McIntyre; cleared by EUR, GER, AID, BTF, Thompson, and Klein for the White House; and approved by Rusk.
2. Document 38.
3. Document 36.
4. See Document 37.
5. See footnote 6, Document 38.
6. Telegram 3308 to Bonn, May 21. (Department of State, Central Files,POL 32–4 GER)