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

90. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State¹

Bonn, January 23, 1965, 3 p.m.

2761. Subject: Memorandum from GovMayor Brandt to Sec Rusk. In my meeting with Chancellor Erhard yesterday, which centered mainly on his discussions with General de Gaulle at Rambouillet being reported separately,² he raised with me the question of the memorandum on relations with Eastern Europe which Governing Mayor Brandt of Berlin had submitted to Secretary Rusk.³ Erhard had before him in German translation what was presumably a copy of this memorandum, which had just been called to his attention, dated August [garble], 1964. Erhard did not raise the question, nor did I, as to whether or not the memorandum had been requested. He did ask, however, in what capacity Brandt had written it and what status it had vis-à-vis the US Government.

I replied that it was my understanding that Brandt had, during his last visit to America, volunteered certain views during his meeting with the Secretary with regard to a policy for Eastern Europe—which he had followed up with a written memorandum. I did not know in what capacity he wrote it. The Secretary and other high American officials, of course, receive as visitors opposition leaders from many countries, and are willing to listen to what they say and read memoranda they submit. This did not however, mean that the proposal made by Brandt had any official inter-governmental status between the US and Germany. We understand full well that this subject is beyond Brandt’s competence as GovMayor of Berlin, and we would discuss such a matter in an authoritative way only with the Federal Government. The Chancellor asked me if I had any objection to his quoting what I had said. I replied that I did not.

I then advised the Chancellor of the recent démarche made to the Embassy by a representative of another party in Germany (although I did not say so, he understood that it was the FDP since their proposal has become known publicly) who wished to send a delegation to our country to discuss a further reunification initiative.⁴ I had advised them that although we would receive their delegation at a suitable level and listen to what they had to say, we would not undertake to discuss with them authoritatively or negotiate with them concerning a reunification initiative. This, again, was a matter in which we could deal only with the Federal Government or its designated representatives. I had given the party in question no assurances that their delegation would be received by the President—indeed, I had attempted to discourage them from going at all.

McGhee

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files,POL EUR E–EUR W. Secret. Received at 11:25 a.m. and repeated to Berlin.
2. Telegram 2755 from Bonn, January 23, reported on the discussions, which dealt with European unification and the MLF. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Germany, vol. 6)
3. Attachment to Document 67.
4. Reported in telegram 2710 from Bonn, January 20. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 32–4 GER)