Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XX, Eastern Europe

53. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany¹

Washington, August 23, 1977, 0048Z

200014. Subject: RFE/RL Holzkirchen Modernization. Ref: Bonn 12578.² For the Ambassador.

1. The Department and White House have reviewed this question on the basis of your report (reftel) concerning discussions during Chancellor Schmidt’s July 13–14 visit.³

2. You are instructed to seek an appointment with State Secretary Schueler as soon as possible to make a presentation based on the following aide-memoire. You are authorized to draw on its text in making your points orally. You should leave the aide-memoire with Schueler and report his reaction.⁴

3. Begin text.

Aide Memoire

President Carter has given thorough consideration to the question of replacing the four 10 KW transmitters at Holzkirchen with four new 250 KW transmitters, as he had promised Chancellor Schmidt he would do during their talks in Washington July 13–14, 1977. The President has concluded that replacement of the transmitters is necessary to our overall broadcasting effort to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. This conclusion is based on the results of a recent detailed study of the U.S. international broadcasting effort, which revealed that the current overall capacity of 400KW would be eleven percent below⁵ the minimum level required for effective broadcasting into Eastern Europe and the USSR, even if all governments in the area were to cease jamming, which some have shown little indication of doing.⁶

We have further concluded that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty play a very important role in the exchange of information and the support of Western and democratic values. The audiences for these stations in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have come to depend in varying degrees on their broadcasts for a balanced and comprehensive view of international developments.

Our request to upgrade the Holzkirchen facility is a continuation of a process to modernize Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty facilities in Europe. As far as Germany is concerned it goes back to the late nineteen-sixties when authorization was granted by the Federal Republic to replace four older and lower-powered transmitters at Lampertheim with four 250 KW transmitters. Budgetary restrictions prevented our replacing the transmitters at that time. A formal request to upgrade the Holzkirchen plant was made on February 24, 1976 and on June 9, 1976 FRG authorization was given to build six 100 KW transmitters in Holzkirchen. This authorization was subsequently reduced to the replacement of four existing 10 KW transmitters by four 100 KW transmitters. However, on the basis of a Presidential study⁷ of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty technical deficiencies requested by Congress in the summer of 1976, completed in December 1976, and sent to Congress in March 1977, we asked that the license for the four 100 KW transmitters be upgraded to four 250 KW.

The United States wishes to emphasize that there will not be any increase in the number of frequencies or transmitters. It was with this consideration in mind that, following discussions with the Ministry of Post, the United States agreed to revise its original request made in February 1976 for six 100 KW transmitters to the current pending application for four 250 KW transmitters.

The United States requests that the Federal Republic agree to license the four 250 KW transmitters as soon as possible. End text.

Christopher

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770303–0775. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Seymour and Klingaman; cleared by Andrews, Woessner, Luers, Vine, Roberts, Dodson, and Goldsmith; approved by Vest.
2. Telegram 12578 from Bonn, August 2, precipitated a series of exchanges between the White House and the Department of State on how to handle the issue of RFE/RL modernization. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770276–0284) In an August 2 memorandum to Brzezinski, Treverton and Hunter cited the telegram as evidence of the growing perception in Bonn that Carter was willing to reduce the visibility of the Radios. Treverton, Hunter, and Henze argued that Carter should clarify his position with the West German Government. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 9, Board for International Broadcasting (RFE, RL, VOA): 2–12/77)
3. In an August 6 memorandum to Brzezinski, Tarnoff wrote that, while Schmidt would like closer consultations and, ultimately, the removal of the transmitters from FRG territory, “it is unlikely that he would go so far as to deny the license or push for the stations’ removal from the FRG.” Tarnoff asked the White House to authorize the Department to instruct Stroessel to take up the RFE/RL issue with West German State Secretary Schueler and inform him that “the President had reviewed the Holzkirchen transmitter question and determined that the replacement of the four underpowered transmitters with four new 250 KW transmitters is necessary to our overall broadcasting effort to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.” (Ibid.) On August 9, the White House tasked the Department of State with drafting and submitting to the White House for clearance a note verbale. (Memorandum from Dodson to Tarnoff, August 9; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 9, Board for International Broadcasting (RFE, RL, VOA): 2–12/77)
4. In telegram 13721 from Bonn, August 23, Meehan reported that Schueler was on vacation until August 29. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770303–1317) In accordance with subsequent instructions, Meehan delivered the aide mémoire to Schueler on August 29. (Telegram 14136 from Bonn, August 29; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770312–0131)
5. In telegram 203257 to Bonn, August 25, the Department revised the text of the aide mémoire, changing “current overall capacity of 400 KW would be eleven percent below” to “the current overall capacity of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty would be eleven percent below.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770308–0934)
6. In accordance with instructions in telegram 203257 to Bonn (see footnote 5 above), the text here was changed from “which some have shown little indication of doing” to “which some have shown no indication of doing.”
7. In accordance with instructions in telegram 203257 to Bonn (see footnote 5 above), the text here was changed from “however, on the basis of a Presidential study” to “on the basis of the aforementioned study.”