118. Telegram from the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany0
745. Eyes only for Ambassador from Secretary. At the President’s request, I spoke privately and very frankly to Erhard last night.1 I told him that the continuing stream of doubts and suspicions of American motives and intentions emanating from Europe (latest example Sydney Gruson’s story datelined Bonn Sept 16) was having increasingly adverse effect here. I reminded Erhard forcefully of our extensive commitment to the security of Germany and Berlin, and of the scale of our financial and military contribution compared with that of our Allies. I left no doubt that we were getting mighty tired of the recurring cycle of suspicion, calling for reassurances which in turn seemed to evaporate rapidly.
Erhard took my blunt remarks in good part and said he understood and sympathized fully. He added that the current situation did not reflect feelings of the German people, but was due to particular circumstances “which would be overcome.” He said he would inform Chancellor and his colleagues of our talk, and promised he would do his best personally to ensure that a new note would be heard from Bonn in the future.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/9–1862. Secret. Drafted and initialed by Tyler and approved by Rusk.↩
- Erhard was in Washington for the meeting of the International Monetary Fund. A memorandum of his conversation with Rusk on September 14, concerning British entry into the Common Market, is in vol. XIII, Document 49.↩
- On September 21 Dowling reported that Rusk’s remarks seemed to be having some effect as Erhard’s arrival statement at Frankfurt and his projected speech to the Berlin Industries Fair reflected the Secretary’s concern. Dowling added that he had talked to a number of U.S. correspondents about the problem, and their despatches seemed to be reflecting a decline in the number of disruptive reports. (Telegram 872 from Bonn; Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/9–2162)↩