Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969–1972

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

Washington, March 25, 1970, 1628Z.

43392. Subj: Brandt Letter of March 22 to President.² Following is translation of letter from Chancellor Brandt delivered at White House March 23:

“Dear Mr. President, Today State Secretary Bahr returned from his exploratory talks in Moscow. He will personally give a detailed report to your Ambassador, as well as to those of France and the UK.³ I would like you to learn right away my principal impression: while we have come closer in some respects, we are still far apart on quite a few points. It appears that the Soviet side will wait for at least the first round of the Four-Power talks on Berlin before deciding on its further course of action. In any case, I have no doubt that the Soviet side sees the Berlin talks and our soundings in East Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw as one.

Your Ambassador has been informed about the meeting that I had last Thursday with East German Premier Stoph in Erfurt. An additional assessment will be delivered in the normal manner.

I cannot underrate the many signs of the bonds that join us which were given to me by the people in the other part of Germany. But these signs are also not to be overestimated. One must even consider that those circles in the East that fear a consolidation of the GDR will draw back anew.

In material respects the outcome is meager, although I myself had not counted on achieving more than a second meeting—this time in May in the Federal Republic. The East German side insisted with absolute determination—even in the private talks—on its formulation of the recognition question. It concentrated almost completely on the formal adjustment of relations and showed virtually no readiness to go into the real questions. Nevertheless, I should not like to exclude the possibility that some relaxation can be obtained in due course.

My discussion partner showed himself to be particularly uncompromising regarding Berlin. It is all the more important that in the forthcoming discussions of the Three Powers with the Soviet Union that the Eastern side be urged with great vigor to acknowledge the ties which have grown up between West Berlin and the Federal Republic.

I regard it as important for the sake of our contacts with Eastern Europe and with the GDR that we remain in very close touch.

I have informed the President of the French Republic and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the same manner.

I am looking forward to our upcoming conversations in Washington and I thank you for the opportunity to rest up a few days beforehand at Camp David.

Please accept, Mr. President, my very best regards. Willy Brandt.”⁴

Rogers

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 28 GER B. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Skoug and Thompson on March 24; cleared by Sutterlin, Sonnenfeldt, and Watts; and approved by Hillenbrand. Repeated to London, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, and USNATO.
2. Kissinger forwarded an informal translation of the letter in a memorandum for the President on March 25; a notation indicates that Nixon saw the memorandum on March 26. After summarizing the contents of the letter, Kissinger explained: “Since Ambassador Rush is to receive more detailed briefings from the Germans, I have delayed drafting your reply to Brandt for a few days. I shall forward a reply for your approval later this week.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 753, President’s Correspondence File, Germany, Chancellor Brandt (1969–Apr 70)) For the text of Brandt’s letter in German, see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1970, Vol. 1, pp. 507–508.
3. See Documents 67 and 68.
4. In his reply to Brandt on March 27, Nixon commented: “Your letter of March 22, 1970 concerning the German talks in Moscow and your meeting with Herr Stoph was of great interest. I appreciate your special effort to keep President Pompidou, Prime Minister Wilson and myself informed of these important developments. Your forthcoming visit to Washington will provide an excellent opportunity for further discussion of these subjects and of others which touch on our mutual interests. The reports I received of your reception in Erfurt were deeply moving. You have often spoken of one German nation. I thought the validity of this concept was well illustrated by those East Germans who were able to gather to greet you. The position taken by Herr Stoph, as you describe it, would indicate that your task will be long and arduous in mitigating the effect of the division of Germany on the German people and on the security of Europe.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 753, President’s Correspondence File, Germany, Chancellor Brandt (1969–Apr 70)) For the full text of the letter, see Dokumente zur Deutschlandpolitik, 1969–1970, Nr. 117, pp. 455–456.