Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume I, Foundations of Foreign Policy

221. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan¹

Washington, December 6, 1984

SUBJECT

• U.S. Strategy on World War II Anniversaries

Secretary Shultz has sent you a memo (Tab A) outlining the various policy considerations that we must address in managing the series of anniversaries that will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the end of World War II.² You will remember the German sensitivities that Chancellor Kohl expressed so eloquently last Friday,³ as well as his invitation for you to extend your stay in Germany for two days, beyond the Bonn Summit.

We have an approach in mind which would avoid embarrassing the Germans and would keep us from being in a defensive position should the Soviets invite us to their ceremonies. Subject to British, French and German agreement, we could invite the Soviets and East Germans to a joint commemoration ceremony celebrating the end of World War II and the defeat of Nazism—perhaps in Berlin (in both East and West). Our central theme would be reconciliation. The Soviets would likely reject such an invitation, but we would be better positioned to turn down a Soviet invitation designed to exclude the West Germans, and call attention to alleged German revanchism.

George will be seeing his colleagues at the NATO Ministerial meeting in Brussels next week, and I am asking him to consult with the British, French and Germans about their plans and their views on Soviet participation.⁴ Based on these consultations, I will ask George to make specific recommendations concerning your participation, Allied and Soviet participation, and the possible extension of your stay in Germany.⁵

1. Source: Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Records, Subject File, U.S. Foreign Policy; NLR–170–13–47–9–8. Secret. Sent for information. A copy was sent to Bush. The President initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. A stamped notation reads: “The President has seen.” Under a December 3 covering memorandum, Matlock and Sommer sent McFarlane the copy of Shultz’s November 29 memorandum (Document 220), noting that it “aptly outlines the various policy considerations, but is woefully short on specifics,” and the memorandum to the President printed here, recommending that he sign it. (Ibid.)
2. See Document 220.
3. November 30.
4. In a December 6 memorandum to Shultz, McFarlane wrote: “Your trip to Brussels offers an opportunity to begin consultations. Indeed, you may wish to inform the British and French in advance so they would be in a position to respond. If you consider the idea outlined above sound, you may inform the British and French that the President has asked if it would not be best to seize the high ground by inviting the Soviets and East Germans to participate in a joint ceremony. You could also inform the British and French of Kohl’s invitation for the President to extend his stay in Germany, and that the President is inclined to accept, schedule permitting. Following your discussion with the British and the French, we ask that you seek German views on proposals that might be made to the East.” (Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Subject File, U.S. Foreign Policy; NLR–170–13–47–7–0)
5. In a memorandum to McFarlane, January 11, 1985, Matlock, Cobb, and Sommer expressed their concern that the United States had not “directed sufficient attention” toward the commemoration of the various anniversaries. They noted, “While State addressed the anniversaries in general terms during Shultz’s bilaterals on the margins of NATO’s Ministerial meeting in Brussels, the Department still has not sent us any specific policy recommendations. We have continued to voice our concern to EUR that the USG has no definitive plan for commemorating these anniversaries. The NSC staff members attached a memorandum addressed from Kimmitt to Platt, Executive Secretary of the Department of Defense Colonel R.J. Affourtit, and USIA Chief of the Executive Secretariat C. William LaSalle, directing them to provide the NSC with a “coordinated, specific plan” and “recommended policy guidelines” for the commemorations. McFarlane approved the recommendation that Kimmitt sign the memorandum. (Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Records, Subject File, U.S. Foreign Policy; NLR–170–13–48–20–4) The undated copy of Kimmitt’s memorandum to Platt, Affourtit, and LaSalle is in the Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Subject File, U.S. Foreign Policy; NLR–170–13–48–13–2.