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

141. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, December 20, 1965.

MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND CHANCELLOR ERHARD, AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE DINNER, 20 DECEMBER 1965

The President asked the Chancellor for:

1. Instructions to his Finance and Defense Ministers to meet fully the terms of the Offset Agreement.

2. The deployment of a German medical company and construction battalion to South Vietnam.

The President went on to say “we favored the FRG’s proposal for a nuclear force² and would so state to the UK.” Erhard replied:

1. The FRG will stand by the Offset Agreement but needs to discuss the terms and methods by which to accomplish this. He is not prepared to say that at such and such a date they would pay such and such an amount.

2. He is thinking of the possibility of sending medical personnel to South Vietnam through the Red Cross. He is not certain whether it would be possible under their existing legislation to send military units to Vietnam. “Perhaps it could be done on a voluntary basis—it can perhaps be undertaken—I think something can be done.”

3. He would not object to a reference in the communiqué³ to the Federal Republic’s support of U.S. efforts in support of freedom throughout the world.

RMcN

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, Gift Collection (Record Group 200), Papers of Robert S. McNamara, Memoranda of Conversation, Germany, vol. 2, sec 1, tab 103. Secret. Drafted by McNamara.
2. Memoranda of conversation regarding German nuclear sharing proposals are in Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. XIII, Documents 119 and 120.
3. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, January 10, 1966, pp. 50–51.