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

56. Telegram From the Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany to the Department of State¹

Bonn, May 26, 1978, 1737Z

9678. Subject: RFE/RL: Holzkirchen Modernization. Ref: (A) Bonn 7988, (Bonn 7217).²

1. Chancellor Schmidt has approved the Holzkirchen modernization application.

2. The Foreign Office (Joetze) informally and privately advised us on May 26 that Schmidt had approved the full Holzkirchen modernization request as well as the new license reflecting the amalgamation of RFE/RL. Joetze noted that he was giving us informal working level notification and that formal notice would likely come next week. Continuing, he said the decision had not been easy for the Chancellor. In view of what he described as the Chancellor’s sensitivities on this matter and the fact that we had not yet been formally advised of approval, Joetze strongly suggested that the President not refer to this decision during his meeting with Schmidt.³ While he did not rule out the possibility that Schmidt himself would advise the President of his decision, he thought it highly desirable that initial reference to the approval not come from the US side.⁴

Stoessel

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780223–0450. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information to Munich.
2. In telegram 7988 from Bonn, April 28, the Embassy reported that the working level at the Chancellery was preparing a positive recommendation to the Chancellor for approval of the U.S. Government application. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780184–0465) In telegram 7217 from Bonn, April 18, the Embassy reported that the Foreign Office had recommended approval of the full U.S. Government Holzkirchen modernization application to the Chancellery. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780166–0296)
3. Schmidt visited Washington for the meeting of the North Atlantic Council May 30–31.
4. On June 9, State Secretary Van Well formally notified the Embassy in Bonn that the West German Government gave final approval to the U.S. Government application. (Telegram 10663 from Bonn, June 9; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780242–0241)