192. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany0

2673. Eyes only for Chargé. Following is unofficial Germany Embassy translation of letter from Chancellor to President transmitted under covering letter dated April 30 from German Ambassador:

Begin text.

“My dear Mr. President:

I would like to revert again to the question of creating a Multilateral Nuclear Force which you discussed in your letter of March 29.1

The Federal Government appreciates that you have sent to Bonn, in accordance to the suggestions I made in my letter of April 4,2 a group of experts headed by Admiral Ricketts. The instructive explanations given by Admiral Ricketts on the question of survivability of surface ships have to a large extent dissipated our doubts with regard to an initial equipment of the Multilateral Force with surface ships. The Federal Government is therefore in agreement with your proposal, that the Multilateral Force should in the beginning be equipped with surface ships as carriers for the Polaris A–3. However, the Federal Government wishes to emphasize that a subsequent examination of equipping the MLF with submarines is reserved, should this seem appropriate in the light of past experience.

Moreover the Federal Government has examined your proposals as to political control of the Multilateral Force. It agrees that in the beginning an arrangement may be provided under which the decision to permit the use of the Multilateral Force requires the consent of the major participating countries. However, the Federal Government deems it necessary that this arrangement too should be re-examined after some years in the light of past experience and that a change to a different arrangement should not be excluded.

The Federal Government would appreciate if a provisional agreement on the MLF could be signed by the Federal Republic of Germany and other interested NATO states already during your visit in Europe next June. The Federal Government is prepared to enter immediately into discussions concerning such an agreement. The list of points enclosed [Page 566] in your letter of March 29 which would have to be dealt with in a provisional agreement on the MLF offers a good basis for these discussions.

On this occasion, those technical and financial questions which according to the enclosure to your letter should be dealt with already in the provisional agreement, and which are still not decided upon, should be settled. Among these questions is the decision concerning the number of ships and rockets with which the MLF should be equipped. Moreover, the share which the participating states should contribute towards the expenditures of the force has to be determined. This should be based on a still more precise summary of the overall expenditures.

The Federal Government is prepared in principle to assume an essential share of the costs of the MLF. It would, however, prefer if the United States as the leading power of the alliance would make in the financial field and in that of personnel a somewhat larger contribution to the MLF than the Federal Republic of Germany. The Federal Government is of the opinion that this could promote the willingness of other NATO states to participate in the MLF.

The previous discussions have already led to a consensus in principle between our two governments. The Federal Government deems it necessary that now also other NATO states are won over to pledge their participation in the Multilateral Force. The Federal Government proposes that the future talks in preparation of a preliminary agreement should as soon as possible be held with other interested NATO countries participating. The Federal Government shares your wish that after signing a preliminary agreement, negotiations for a formal treaty should be carried on and concluded by fall of this year.

The Federal Government notes with deep satisfaction that the project of a Multilateral Force, to which the Federal Republic attributes great political and military importance, now is getting close to realization. I am very grateful to you for the emphasis with which your Government and you personally support the idea of the Multilateral Force. I am convinced that the obstacles still existing on the way towards the Multilateral Force can be overcome and that the Multilateral Force will contribute decisively to the military strength and the political unity of the alliance.

I am looking forward to your visit in June.

With kindest regards

Yours, (signed: Adenauer)”

End text.

Ball
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, Def 12 NATO. Secret; Verbatim Text. A copy of the German-language original of the Chancellor’s letter was attached to the source text.
  2. See Document 185.
  3. See Document 187.