313. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State 1

10324. 1. Egon Bahr has just given Ambassador following letter for President.2

2. Begin text.

Dear Mr. President,

Back in Bonn I have studied the Berlin draft agreement the four Ambassadors reached this week. Taking into account the realities of the Berlin situation and putting wishful thinking aside, this draft represents a major achievement for the three Western powers and for the Federal Republic. The draft safeguards the Western positions; in addition improvements have been reached which many of us have not considered feasible when the negotiations started. The draft will find my full political support and I am sure that on Wednesday3 the Cabinet will follow me in this judgement. I am convinced that the draft will find your approval and that you will regard it a limited but very important result of your policy. I remember the day when you initiated the Berlin talks by your speech at the Siemens factory.4 Your government [Page 882] has done everything possible to make these very difficult negotiations a success.

The excellent work, imagination and cooperation of Ambassador Rush have been of the greatest importance. In the process of the negotiations he has won our admiration in addition to our friendship and respect. I will express my feelings to Ambassador Rush at a later occasion.

Having studied the text I wanted to express to you immediately that I am most grateful and encouraged.

With kindest regards,

Yours sincerely

/s/ Willy Brandt. End text.

Rush
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 38–6. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated to the White House.
  2. The letter was sent at Kissinger’s instigation; see footnote 3, Document 308, and Kissinger, White House Years, p. 832.
  3. August 25.
  4. See Document 17.