Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-28
Erhard Welcomed
To johnson Ranch
Peace Hope
Is GroWinq,
Visitor Told
BY GARRETT d. HORNER
Star Staff Writer

Star Staff Writer
JOHNSON CITY, Tex, Dec.
28.-President johnson told
West German Chancellor Lud-
wig Erhard today that they
have much to do to enlarge
the prospect of peace" during
their talks this week end at
the Presidents LBJ ranch near
here.
The President greeted Mr..
Erhard at BergStrom Air Force
Base near Austin, before taking
him in a helicopter to his
ranch home.
He told the West German
Chancellor in the formal well
coming ceremony at Bergstrom
that they met at a time when
historic dangers have been
turned back and hope for the
future has been strengthened"
But I'VE have much to do"
to strengthen the forces of
freedom, he added.
The President has assigned
top priority during his two
days Of talks with Mr.. Erhard
to discussion of steps to i'm
prove East-West relations.
I'VE are going to go down
any road that can possibly lead
to peace" the President
stressed during a press confer
ence late yesterday at his ranch.
See Progress Possible
1--WE believe that there is
progress which can be made"
he added. I'VE are going to do
our best to do our part"
He said he has no doubt that
Chancellor Erhard and other
world leaders have the same
feeling.
Chancellor Erhard agreed
with the President that their
greatest task is to "do every
thing in our power to keep and
enlarge the peace of the
world"
He added that he thought
Europe and the United States
must act together to bring
! new hope to the world"
More and more during the
. recent years. Mr.. Erhard told
the President, the United
States and Germany have felt
that "our faith is a common
one" and that peace and free
dom are indivisible."
Anthem Played
Mr.. Johnson flew by hell
copter from his ranch home to
Bergstrom Air Force Base, near
Austin, to welcome Mr.. Erhard
on his arrival there from Hous-
ton, where the Chancellor had
spent the night en- route from
Bonn.
Wearing a dark blue suit.
light blue shirt and blue and
white striped tie, the President
greeted Mr.. Erhard as he
walked down the steps of a
Lufthansa jet airliner.
A 19-gun salute doomed out
, in honor of the visitor as an
Air Force Band played the Ger
man national anthem.
After reviewing the honor
guard, the President and Chan
cellor mounted a red carpet
covered stand to exchange for
NAL greetings in front of a
microphone that carried their
words to several hundred people
who lined a rope barrier.
After the ceremony, the Pres
ldent took Mr.. Erhard by hell
copter to his ranch home,
where he will be a guest until
: tomorrow night.
While they will be working
hard during the Chancellor's
Texas visit, Mr.. johnson said
there also will be time for Mr..
; Erhard to meet some of our
, neighbors to see us as we are"
Recalls Berlin Visit
Recalling that he flew to
West Berlin two years ago at
the request of the late Presi-
dent Kennedy ito make plain
our determination that free
dom there could not be Stran-
gled by a wall" Mr.. johnson
said to-day the freedom of
West Berlin is more secure
than ever"
"Yet the wall itself re-
MAINS" he said, 1.-The guards
who man it still shoot to kill.
Germany is still divided"
The President pledged that
the United States remains
committed to the great peace
See ERHARD, Page AS