Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969–1972

12. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers, Secretary of Defense Laird, and Director of Central Intelligence Helms¹

Washington, February 22, 1969.

SUBJECT

• Increased Flow of Military Traffic over the Autobahn To and From West Berlin

The President has asked that the U.S. Government consider measures to increase the flow of military traffic over the Autobahn to and from West Berlin. The increase in military traffic would follow normal convoy procedures and should not include extraordinary military measures which might raise procedural issues.

It is requested that a plan be developed within the regular interdepartmental framework responsible for Berlin plans and operations. The plan should include: (a) recommendations for specific measures designed to increase the flow of military traffic to and from Berlin; (b) proposed public statements which might be used in the event this action creates public interest; and (c) any additional measures which might be readied to manifest U.S. intent to maintain access rights to and from Berlin. In conjunction with (a) above, your analysis of the desirability of such action is desired, together with your views on how the proposed action should be handled with Allied Governments.

It is requested that the above plan be submitted to the President through the Assistant for National Security Affairs by the close of business March 3, 1969.²

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 689, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Berlin), Vol. I. Top Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Printed from a copy that indicates that Kissinger signed the original. According to Kissinger, “the President, on my recommendation, ordered a step-up in US military traffic over the access routes to Berlin” to underscore his warning to Dobrynin on February 22 against “unilateral acts.” (Kissinger, White House Years, p. 406)
2. In a February 26 memorandum to Haig, Donald Lesh of the NSC staff reported attending a meeting of the Berlin Task Force that afternoon during which the participants decided that an increase in military traffic on the Autobahn was “desirable.” In an attached draft memorandum to Kissinger, George Springsteen, Acting Chairman of the NSC Interdepartmental Group for Europe, outlined a plan to increase the frequency of Allied convoys to and from Berlin, including contingency press guidance. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 689, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Berlin), Vol. I) Deputy Secretary of Defense Packard noted in a memorandum to Kissinger on March 7 that the plan developed by the Berlin Task Force was “implemented at the direction of the President on 1 March.” (Ibid.)