264 Foreign Relations, 1958-1960, Volume IX



press corps here have confirmed that disillusion is spreading among
younger Germans, and have expressed view that we should take steps
reassure German public opinion of our continued confidence in German
democracy.
    I would hope therefore that administration leaders would seek
early occasions such as White House press conference, to express appre-
ciation political and spiritual integrity of German democracy and
FedRep's growing contribution to free world.
    It would be particularly useful if the Secretary would consider de-
voting some remarks this subject in his April 4th NAB speech.2
                                                           Dowling


    2Based on this telegram and a strong recommendation by EUR, Secretary
Herter's
speech in Chicago was revised to include a new section repudiating Soviet
charges against
Adenauer and praising the Federal Republic of Germany as a worthy and respected
ally.
(Memorandum from Berding to Herter, March 31; ibid., 762.00/3-3160) For text
of Herter's
speech to the National Association of Broadcasters at Chicago, April 4, see
Department of
State Bulletin, April 25, 1960, pp. 635-640.




108. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of
      State

                                          Paris, April 4, 1960, 7 p.m.
    4601. Couve in unusually loquacious mood this morning described
in considerable detail Khrushchev conversations at Rambouillet.
    1. Germany. Khrushchev on his own initiative raised again the Ger-
man question. In much the same fashion as before he said he thought
that a peace treaty should be signed with both Germanies leaving it then
to them to work out their salvation. Failing this, he would sign a treaty
with East Germany. De Gaulle reiterated that he could not prevent the
Soviets signing a treaty with East Germany but he could see no good
reason for it and once again stated that France would not recognize East
Germany. He, de Gaulle, felt that there was no reason why the situation
should not remain in its status quo. Khrushchev placed somewhat more
weight on Berlin than in his previous conversations. De Gaulle again
stressed his belief that for a proper balance in Europe Germany must be
with the West.



    Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751.13/4-460. Secret. Repeated
to Lon-
don, Bonn, and Moscow.