MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-283-1-23-1
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2009
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: November 21, 1975
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE. HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL /XGDS
MEMORANDUM ?F CONVERSATION
4
PARTICIPANTS : THE PRESIDENT
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Assistant
to the President for National Security
Affair a
Klaus Schuetz, Governing Mayor of
Berlin,
Ambassador Berndt Von Staden, FRG
Ambassador to the United States
DATE, AND TIME: Friday,,, November 21, 1975
10:10 - l0:Z0 a.m.
PLACE The Oval Office
[The press in was admitted briefly.."There was small talk about the
Economic Summit at Rambouillet, the SPD Party,,Congress, etc. The.
press left.]
The President: We feel very strongly about the importance of Berlin.
I want you to know we will live up to every. commitment and we will
continue to give you support. Your being here is an indication of that
support.
Federal Republic not Berlin. We have a more balanced economy in Berlin
to discuss. We have economic problems, but they are the problems of the
Schuetz: One of the nice things is to be able to come here without problems
the United States. Detente is in part positive for us and in part negative,,
For our security we know we can count on the big Three and especially
than the Federal Republic as a whole.
but it does tend to make life somewhat easier for us
trip. General -,, was the Commandant.. I knew him well from .
in '57 or '58. I went there with General Westmoreland. on a European
President?
The President: I was just thinking how many times. The first time was
his being the Army Budget Director.
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?2w
He described the other part of his trip.
Scuetz,-. You khow the American President is always welcome in Berlin.
The President I hope to make it soxnetirne. T think it 'would have meaning.'..
Schuette It would have meaning. We are the only area in the world that is
pleased to be occupied. We have an especially close feeling with American
forces and the United States of America., I.. I
I was pleased that we could have the [BerlinOpera Company] symphony
here for the Bicentennial as a gesture of this, closeness between us
The President: The symphony is a big success.
Schuetz Los Angeles is our sister dity and I went there. Mayor Bradley,
and I don't travel like Mayor Yorty did, but we have a good relationship..
The President, I am glad New York is not, your sister city.
Schuetz
We get 50% of our budget from the federal budget
The President New York gets 25%6 but you don't hear
problem is mis-management.
about, it.,. Their.
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WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL/XGDS
MEETING WITH BERLIN GOVERNING MAYOR KLAUS SCHUETZ
Friday, November 21, 1975
10:00 a. m. (15 minutes)
The Oval Office
From: Brent Scowcroft
1. PURPOSE
Mayor Schuetz (SHOOTS) has asked for this meeting to obtain visible
reassurance for the people of Berlin that the United States remains
committed to the freedom and viability of the city. Your purpose in
the meeting will be to confirm U. U.S. dedication to the freedom of Berlin
and to assure the Mayor that we will support Berlins legitimate interests
now and in the future as we did in the earlier period of the Cold War.
U. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
A. Background: Berlin Mayor Klaus Schuetz
is in the United States to attend a performance of te
Deutsche Qper, the Berlin Opera Company appearing at the
Kennedy Center as part of the city's contribution to the U. S.
Bicentennial celebrations. Before coming to Washington,
Schuetz visited Los Angeles, Berlin's sister city. While in
Washington, he has met with members of the Congress and with
Secretary Kissinger.
Mayor Schuetz visits the United States at a time when Berlin is
no longer as much a focus of international tension in Europe as
in the past. While continuing problems must be dealt with, the
Quadripartite Agreement of 1972 is generally achieving its purpose
of defusing the Berlin question and bringing about practical improve-
ments in day-to-day contacts between the city and the Federal
Republic. Both the Berlin Senat and West German leaders appear
to agree that the political situation has stabilized and, while far
from ideal, is probably as good as can be achieved in view of the
geopolitical realities.
CONFIDENTIAL/XGDS
Classified by Brent Scoweroft
Auton _L. w-, _,_ "_-_L,_ -
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CONFIDENTIAL I XGDS
Nonetheless, Berliners are understandably concerned about the
long-term prospects for their city and nervous about Soviet
intentions. Some harbor fears that the Allies in the name of
detente or the FRG in the interests of Ostpolitik may make
unnecessary concessions to the East to the detriment of the city.
Particularly since his party lost its absolute majority in the Berlin
elections last March, Schuetz has taken a hard stance on Berlin,
sometimes out of step with the Allies and the Schmidt government
in Bonn.
Recent difficulties with the Soviets concerning Berlin have been
in the context of the Quadripartite Agreement and related to the
further development of Berlin's ties to the FRG. The Allies refuse
to accept the Soviets' restrictive interpretation in this matter, and
the Berliners welcomed Allied approval -- over Soviet objections --
of the establishment of the Federal Environmental Office and the .
European Community Vocational Center in Berlin. The Soviets are
extremely sensitive to any efforts by the Federal Republic to
increase an institutional FRG presence in the city, We have a
Four Power under standing that the FRG will consult closely with
us on this issue.
West Berlin is doing well economically, despite its geographic
isolation. Its export industry is highly productive and the city's
per capita GNP surpassed that of the United States in 1974. Like
the FRG economy in which it is integrated, however, Berlin has
felt the negative effect of the recession, including increased
unemployment and some curtailment of social services.
The FRG, which finances 45 percent of the city's budget, is seeking
to encourage further investment in Berlin. We welcome this effort.
We would view positively further U. S. business investment there,
but believe it is properly a German task to provide the incentives.
Unfortunately, as Mayor Schuetz mentioned to the Secretary of State
i.n May, the American firms Pitney-Bowes and NCR are terminating'
or severely curtailing their manufacturing operations in Berlin.
Although based on commercial rather than political considerations,
their action inevitably has a negative effect on the psychological
atmosphere in the city.
CONFIDENTIAL/XGDS
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CONFIDENTIAL/XGDS
Participants: Governing Mayor Schuetz, FRG Ambassador Berndt
von Staden, and Brent Scowcroft,
C. Press Arrangements: The meeting will be announced and there
will be a press photo session at the beginning of your talks.
LLi. TALKING POINTS
Introductory
1. I am very pleased to welcome you to the White House.
2. I hope that your visit to Los Angeles -- Berlin's sister city
a pleasant one,
3. I wish to thank the people of Berlin for their very special gesture
in having their opera company perform in Washington in honor of
our Bicentennial celebrations. I am delighted the company has
been so well received -- I believe every night has been standing
room, only.
Berlin/East-West Relations
1. It was a pleasure for me this past week-end to meet once again with
Chancellor Schmidt and Foreign Minister Genscher. I understand
that during President Scheel's visit to the Soviet Union, the Soviets
again explicitly affirmed their support for the Four Power Agreement..
2. 1 would welcome your views on current Berlin developments.
3. I believe that the Quadripartite Agreement is fulfilling its basic
purpose to reduce the crisis potential of Berlin and to bring about
concrete improvements for the city's population. We will continue
to resist Soviet efforts to impose its restrictive interpretation of
the Agreement.'
4. Let me assure you personally, Mr. Mayor, that the United States
remains fully dedicated to the continued freedom and viability of
Berlixi. The relaxation of tensions with the East has not lessened
in any way the American commitment to your city
CONFIDENTIAL/XGDS
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CONFIDENTLAL/XGDS
As 'I said in xiny remarks at the Helsinki Conference in July,
Berlin has a special significance in East-West relations,
and we regard the situation there as a test of detente.
6. Additionally, Secretary Kissinger underscored our policy
toward Berlin during his visit to your city in May of this year.
7. Continued close consultation among the Four Powers are
essential to avoid unnecessary difficulties and to protect our
mutual interests concerning Berlin.
Visit to Berlin (if raised by Schuetz)
I look forward to visiting Berlin at an appropriate occasion.
As you can appreciate, my schedule is very crowded in
coming months but I will keep this very much in mind.
U. S. Investment in Berlin (if raised)
The United States welcomes efforts by the city and by the
Federal. Republic. to encourage U. S. business investment
in Berlin.
CONFIDENTIAL/XGDS
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