56. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany1
3590. Prior Chancellor Erhard’s departure from Washington June 13, Secretary handed him following message from President:
“Dear Mr. Chancellor:
As you leave Washington, I want to tell you how much I have appreciated even this brief opportunity to renew our friendship. Our talks on the problems which confront us have been as always most helpful to me, and I am convinced that they have further strengthened the firm bonds of friendship and understanding between our two countries.
[Page 129]I am mindful of the fact that a few days from now, on June seventeenth, you will be commemorating in the Federal Republic the Day of German Unity. As I told you here, it is a fundamental objective of American foreign policy to help bring an end to the unjust division of the German people, because otherwise there can be no real and durable stability in Europe. The Day of German Unity—June seventeenth—has therefore come to assume a special significance as we look forward to the day when German unity will become a reality. I take pleasure in sending you special greetings on this occasion.
Sincerely,
Lyndon B. Johnson.”
Federal Press Chief Von Hase was told there would be no objection to publication of letter, with timing to be left to Germans.
Request Embassy check with Von Hase to ascertain when Germans plan publish letter in order similar release may be made here.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files,POL 7 GER W. Limited Official Use; Priority. Drafted and approved by Creel and cleared by P and EUR. Repeated to Berlin.↩