130. Memorandum for the Record1

SECRET

Telephone Call from John McCloy (Wednesday, June 21, 1967 at 10:23 a.m.)

McCloy telephoned in to report that, at Kiesinger’s request, he called the Chancellor on Monday (?). They talked about:

1. Money

  • Kiesinger knew the French had backed away from Munich. (I had told McCloy this when he telephoned from Germany on Sunday to tell me about Kiesinger’s invitation.)
  • McCloy argued the case for a plan by September, for real money rather than credit, etc. He also urged Kiesinger to make up his mind on the merits, and not give in to French blackmail.
  • Kiesinger said that the German decision would definitely reflect their judgment about the economic need. Further, he, Kiesinger, will be strongly influenced by Emminger, a schoolmate and an old friend.
  • Kiesinger is only now starting to brief himself on the details. His strong first reaction is that the French are being far too rigid.
  • —They talked at length about the “repayment” issue, and agreed on its importance.
  • Kiesinger said he wanted to be certain there would be enough “discipline” built in, to avoid misuse. (It might be useful to have a hard go at Emminger on the need to link discipline with quantity and decision-making rather than with the quality of the asset.)
  • McCloy seemed pleased about the atmosphere of the talk. He found Kiesinger much more critical of deGaulle than in the past.

[Here follows discussion of the Near East.]

  1. Source: Johnson Library, Bator Papers, McCloy Trip, June 1967, Box 8. Secret. Drafted by Bator on June 22.