THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

Personal

November 15, 1962

Dear Henry:

I have been slow to acknowledge your personal note of last month, and I regret it because it was very kind of you to write. The main thing for me was that the ending of your formal association here should not be regarded by either of us as anything but a necessary recognition of the facts of life as they have developed in a particular situation. Your letter is completely reassuring on that point.

For the rest, let me say simply that I am very grateful for your kind words about our earlier association, and hope you may be wrong in estimating that in the immediate future our paths may diverge. I would like to repeat quite informally what I said in my last letter: that your opinions and assessments will always be valued here. And while I do not take back anything of what I said about the value of public argument, there may be some occasions in which a private word may be more to the point. Be sure of your welcome when you see such a moment.

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
Harvard University
Center for International Affairs
6 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge 38, Massachusetts

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

ROBERT R. BOWIE, Director
ALEX INKELES
HENRY A. KISSINGER
EDWARD S. MASON
THOMAS C. SCHELLING

6 DIVINITY AVENUE
CAMBRIDGE 38
MASSACHUSETTS

January 8, 1963

Mr. McGeorge Bundy
The White House
Washington, D. C.

Dear Mac:

It was a great pleasure to see you yesterday, and I appreciate all the courtesies which you and Carl extended to me.

I have been giving a great deal of thought to the wisdom of visiting Germany, and it seems to me that it is probably not a good idea at this time. My trips to Paris and Rome had been planned for quite a while and the majority of the appointments had been arranged by me. It will be easy--and perfectly natural--to add a few people that you want me to see. There is not likely to be any question in anybody's mind in what capacity I am speaking.

Matters will be different in Germany. I would have no other purpose except to see the Chancellor and the Defense Minister. I would be completely under the segis of the Embassy. To claim in these circumstances that I am visiting as a private citizen would only bewilder the Germans. At the same time, I am not sufficiently aware of the nuances of our policy to be able to represent it with complete fidelity as a semi-official spokesman. Moreover, although I have no intention to state any public views on NATO matters beyond those now in print, it is not inconceivable that, as present consultations develop, I might wish to do so. This would again lead to the embarrassment which produced our decision last September to remove the ambiguity of my posture.

No doubt I will be going to Germany again later this year. I could then let you know well ahead, and I would be happy to call on any persons you would consider important, arranging the appointments largely myself.

I shall be writing you about my conversations in France and Italy upon my return.

Needless to say, I will be happy to give you my opinion whenever you think it would be useful. In the meantime, let me extend to you my very best wishes in the courageous reappraisal of policy you are now undertaking.

Kind regards.

January 8, 1963

Dear Mac:

Matters will be different in Germany. I would have no other purpose except to see the Chancellor and the Defense Minister. I would be completely under the aegis of the Embassy. To claim in these circumstances that I am visiting as a private citizen would only bewilder the Germans. At the same time, I am not sufficiently aware of the nuances of our policy to be able to represent it with complete fidelity as a semi-official spokesman. Moreover, although I have no intention to state any public views on NATO matters beyond those now in print, it is not inconceivable that, as present consultations develop, I might wish to do so. This would again lead to the embarrassment which produced our decision last September to remove the ambiguity of my posture.

Kind regards.

conversations in Italy as they get typed.)
(I will be sending you some more memoranda of

M. Jurgensen
Jean Laloy
Dirk Stikker
Françoise de Rose
Enclosures: Conversations with: Conve de Murville

Henry A. Klaasen

Kind regards.

latter is 962-1777.
former is at 14th and M Streets NW; the telephone of the
the Center for International Studies at Georgetown. The
you could leave word for me at the International Inn or
European policy. I would be most happy to see you. Perhaps
memoranda or other impreseations I have formed about our
university. If you would like to talk to me about these
January 23 and 24th, to attend a conference at Georgetown
I will be in Washington this Wednesday and Thursday.

past two weeks.
had in France. Things have moved awfully fast during the
I am enclosing some memoranda of conversations I

Dear Mac:

Washington 23, D.C.
The White House
Mr. McGeorge Bundy

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

January 23, 1963

January 22, 1963

Mr. McGeorge Bundy
The White House
Washington 25, D.C.

Dear Mac:

In my memorandum of conversation
with Signor Segni, sent to you earlier
today, I mentioned a clipping. Through
an oversight, this was not enclosed,
and I am now sending it to you.

With kind regards.

January 22, 1963

Washington 22, D.C.
The White House
Mr. McGeorge Bundy

Dear Mac:

With kind regards.

with Sigmar Seidl, sent to you earlier

January 22, 1963

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mac:

I am enclosing some more memoranda of conversations
I had in Europe.

The one with General Speidel should be treated in
the strictest confidence. He asked me not to make any use
of the information he gave me, but I cannot justify keeping
it to myself. On the other hand, I would find it extremely
regrettable if it were to get back to him.

q Kind regards.

Enclosures: Memoranda of conversations with:
General Speidel
Ambassador Cattani
Signor Segni

Signor Segni
Ambassador Cattani
General Spiegel
Enclosures: Memoranda of conversations with:

Dear Mac:

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

January 22, 1963

January 25, 1963

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mac:

I am enclosing a corrected version of my memorandum
of conversation with General Speidel in Fontainebleau on
January 10th. I was eager to get a record of this conversa-
tion to you as soon as possible and therefore asked a cleared
secretary who is no longer employed in the same building to
transcribe rough notes I had taken in Europe. Unfortunately,
I had to go out of town without having a chance to proofread
it. Upon my return, I have discovered several errors, some
of which you have undoubtedly noticed, such as "Neisse" where
"Weser" was intended.

Kind regards.

Henry A. Klaasger

Sincerely yours,

Kind regards.

it with the enclosed.

would appreciate your destroying the first copy and replacing
I have now made the necessary corrections, and

"Weer" was intended.

of which you have undoubtedly noticed, such as "Meise" where
it. Upon my return, I have discovered several errors, some
I had to go out of town without having a chance to brood over
transcribe rough notes I had taken in Europe. Unfortunately,
secretary who is no longer employed in the same building to
tion to you as soon as possible and therefore asked a cleared
January 10th. I was eager to get a record of this conversa-
tion with General Speidel in Fontaineplesu on

Dear Mac:

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

January 22, 1963