Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XV, Germany and Berlin

22. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, March 23, 1964.

SUBJECT

• US-German Relations

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• Ambassador George C. McGhee

I called on the President on March 23. Since the President was slightly indisposed following his return to Washington from a speech in Atlantic City,² I saw him in his private quarters and made my visit brief.

I gave the President an overall summary of the current state of our relations with Germany, making the following points:

1. Chancellor Erhard had constantly reassured me, and in my judgment had also so indicated by his actions, that he placed primary emphasis on Germany’s relations with the United States. In this connection he had reiterated to me frequently his great confidence in the President and his desire to work very closely with him at all times. In particular, he had greatly appreciated the recent letter which the President had transmitted to him through me.³ He had commented on that occasion that he was in full agreement with the letter, and that there was no question it raised which he and the President could not work out together.

2. I indicated to the President that in my judgment there were at the present time no important bilateral problems between us and Germany. There is the continuing need to reassure Germany of our interest in their fundamental objective of reunification; to consult with them fully on East-West negotiations, in disarmament and other matters; and to convince them of our continued faithfulness to our commitment to maintain the equivalent of six divisions under NATO command in Europe as long as they are required. There were, however, no serious questions being raised in Germany at the present time on these grounds.

3. I advised the President that in my judgment the most important aspect of our relations with Germany at the present time lay in enlisting German support and coordinating our common efforts with respect to certain important common objectives. These included:

a. The MLF, which the Germans strongly support;

b. The Kennedy Round, the success of which the Germans support and to which Chancellor Erhard is personally committed;

c. The European unity movement within the framework of Atlantic partnership. Although little forward progress can be made until after the British elections, we both seek to avoid domination by any one power or group of powers, and at least to leave the door open for ultimate British entry.

I observed to the President that in all of these matters we and the Germans saw eye to eye. The principal task lay in coordinating our policies and tactics. The only real divergence in views between us concerned certain aspects of agricultural policy as related to the Kennedy Round.

The President followed what I said with apparent interest, asking questions on occasion. He appeared to be in general agreement with the analysis I had given and the conclusions I had reached.

The President asked that upon my return I relay his personal greetings to Chancellor Erhard, and that I convey to him his great confidence in him and his desire to coordinate closely with him all matters of common interest to our two countries. I should tell him that he hoped the Chancellor would continue to convey through me his thoughts on particular issues as they arise. He would on his part continue to communicate with the Chancellor on appropriate occasions.

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Germany, vol. 1. Confidential. Drafted by McGhee who had returned to Washington for consultations. The meeting was held at the White House.
2. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964, Book I, pp. 408–412.
3. Document 15.