 Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, and Mrs. Reagan. Ladies and gentlemen, the national anthems of the Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United States of America. Chancellor Cole, Mrs. Cole, on behalf of the American people, Nancy and I are honored and delighted to welcome you to Washington. Before my visit to the Federal Republic of Germany earlier this year, Chancellor Cole who had not yet attained the high office he now holds, helped organize several rallies. He wanted to let us know that we were welcome and to reassure all Americans of the sincere goodwill of the German people. Chancellor Cole, I appreciated very much that magnificent gesture. I understand that in Bonn, where some 75,000 people attended the rally, one of the banners read, say something good about America. Well, today it certainly makes all Americans happy to repay this compliment because there are many good things to say about you, Mr. Chancellor, about the German people, and about the strong bond that unites us. A recent study has revealed that today more Americans trace their ancestry to your country than to any other nation. German immigrants provided the hard work and determination that settled much of the Midwest, taking rugged frontier land like that in the Dakotas and reaping from a bountiful harvest that helped feed the world. In other industries, German energy and German ingenuity helped build the factories and firms that catapulted our standard of living and elevated a lot of the common man from a life of drudgery to new progress consistent with individual dignity and respect. But as you were aware, Mr. Chancellor, it wasn't simply hard work that built America. It was freedom available here, freedom to which German immigrants greatly contributed. One of the first precedents for freedom of press, for example, was established when Peter Zenger, a German immigrant, spoke out in his newspaper against the abuse of power by a public official. When the jury freed Zenger, they were laying the freedom of press as a cornerstone of our democratic system. In the middle of the 19th century, when turmoil was sweeping through Western Europe, we were the recipient of many political exiles who made significant contributions to American liberty. One of the most remarkable, Carl Scherz was one of the original members of the Republican Party. Now you see one reason why I personally am so grateful, Mr. Chancellor. With us today to greet you is a group of young people from your country who are spending the autumn months living with American families in Virginia. They're part of our youth exchange project between our two countries. And these kinds of ties bode well for the future. The future of both our nations depends so much on friendship and the values we share. In these uncertain times, when a power to the east has built a massive war machine, far in excess of any legitimate defensive needs, the Western democracies must stand firmly together if our freedom and peace of the world are to be preserved. The German people are on the front lines of freedom. When I was in your country a few months ago, I told your citizens, you are not alone. We're with you. Well today, Mr. Chancellor, I can tell you we're happy that the German people are with us. The Western democracies, the future freedom of mankind, and the peace of the world would be far less secure if it were not so. Your personal commitment and that of your government to the needs of our alliance are well appreciated here, as is the depth which you add to the meaning of our covenant. In truth, as you recently observed, we are not a military alliance. The community of arms you set is there to defend the community of ideas. The important point is that we have common ideas regarding human rights, civil rights, our moral values, our moral laws. I look forward to our talks today. As I would expect at a meeting of the leaders of the two great nations whose interests are so intertwined, there are many vital issues to discuss. As all good friends do, we will disagree at times. But in free societies, we're accustomed to differences and also to a peaceful resolution to achieve our common goals. As we stand here today, I am confident that our shared interests, our common vision of the future, and our joint commitment to human freedom will overcome any differences between our countries. Our governments will work in the closest consultation in a spirit of amity and straightforwardness. We thank you for coming. And in the name of the people of the United States, we welcome you. Mr. Chancellor, Mr. President, Ms. Paul, for Nancy and me it is an honor and a pleasure to welcome you today in Washington. Before my visit to the Federal Republic this year, Mr. Chancellor, you didn't have the privilege of wearing your clothes. And you helped me to organize several friendship demonstrations to let us know that we are welcome in Germany and to support all Americans so that the German people feel true friendship for America. Mr. Chancellor, I was grateful for these great guests. I heard that in Bonn about 75,000 people have attended a demonstration where a banner was to be read, saying something good about America. Today, certainly all Americans are pleased to pay back this compliment, because there are many good things to say about you, Mr. Chancellor, about the German people and about the strong bonds that hold us together. A study has recently shown that most Americans have more than any other nation to their origin from the German soil. German immigrants have contributed with hard work and with their firm will to besiege a large part of the Middle East. They have packed an unreal new land, like, for example, the Dakotas, and have brought in rich harvest that have helped to silence the hunger in the world. In other areas of the economy, German dynamics and the German invented spirit have contributed to building factories and companies that have helped to bring our neighbouring standards up strongly and to bring the simple citizen from a quality existence to a new step forward. We have to be at the base, the human being and the respect for each other. But as you know, Mr. Chancellor, it wasn't just hard work that America built. Freedom was at home here, a freedom to which immigrants from Germany have contributed strongly. One of the first presidential cases in the construction of this freedom was in the area of press freedom, because a German, Peter Zenger, walked in here, who, in his time, against the abuse of violence by an public official, spoke out. When the swindlers then spoke freely, they laid another corner stone for our democratic system. In the middle of the 19th century, when Western Europe was heavily attacked, many political exiles came into the United States and many of these Germans made great contributions to American freedom. One of the most outstanding examples is the person from Karl Schultz, who, in addition, was one of the founders of the Republican Party. Now you can see why I personally thank the Germans. Today we have a group of young Germans who, in autumn, spend a few months with American families and the state of Virginia. They are part of the youth exchange program between our two countries. On this way, connected gangs set a good signal for our future. The future of the nations depends so very much on friendship and the values we share. In these uncertain times, where a power in the East has built up a huge war machinery that goes beyond legitimate defence needs, we have to stand firm in Western democracy when we want to keep our freedom and peace in the world. The German people are at the forefront in this fight for freedom. When I was in your country a few months ago, I told your citizens that you are not alone. We stand on your side. Today, Mr. Chancellor, I must tell you that we are also happy that the German people are on our side. Western democracy, the freedom of humanity in the future and the peace in the world would be much less secure if it were different. We are particularly grateful for your personal commitment and for your government for the achievements of the federal government and for the importance of this federal government to lose a deeper dimension. As you said very briefly, it is not a military government. You expressed it in something like this. The Waffengemeinschaft, as you said, is about defending an idea community. The important thing is what we have in common. Ideas in relation to human rights, civil rights, our moral values, our moral laws. I see our conversations today against and would expect that a meeting of two major nations whose interests are closely linked has many important problems. As always among good friends, you are not always alone. But in free societies, differences are nothing unusual and just as their peaceful contribution to achieve our common goals. We stand here today with full confidence that our common interests, our common vision of the future and our common obligation against human freedom will go beyond all differences that can arise between our countries. Our governments will work together in fear of consultation, in a spirit of friendship and courage. We thank you for coming here and welcoming the name of the American people. Mr. President, very kind woman, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank you for your friendly and warm welcome. Mr. President, Mrs. Reagan, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you, Mr. President, most warmly for the very kind words of welcome and for the warm hearted reception we have been given here. On April 7th, 1953, almost 30 years ago, a Chancellor of the Republic of Germany stood here for the first time. Konrad Adenauer said at the time, the Germans are loyal partners on the way to freedom and peace, on which the United States of America is leading all nations. On April 7th, 1953, almost 30 years ago, a Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany stood here for the first time. And on that occasion, Konrad Adenauer said that we Germans are loyal partners on the road to freedom and peace, a road on which the United States is ahead of all other nations. And Mr. President, I would like to tell you today and all your fellow citizens in the United States, this word, Konrad Adenauer, is also valid today for us and also valid for the future. The Federal Republic of Germany is and remains a loyal partner of the United States of America. Mr. President, I want you and all citizens of the United States to know that these remarks by Chancellor Adenauer still hold true today and will do so in the future as well. Currently, the Committee is and will remain a loyal partner of the United States of America. Just these days, new questions have been proved again. The trust in the Atlantic partnership has, in my country, a broad, solid basis. And that is why I would like to tell all Americans how much pressure they have had on their German friends. Recent opinion polls have shown once more that in the Federal Republic of Germany there is wide-based firm confidence in the Atlantic partnership. And to all Americans, therefore, I'll say today, most emphatically, you can count on your German friends. The North Atlantic alliance and the friendship with the United States are the foundation of our policy for the active security of peace and freedom. The North Atlantic alliance and our friendship with the United States are the foundation of our active policy for safeguarding peace in freedom. The actual strength of our alliance is not the number of our soldiers and weapons. Our alliance is strong because the citizens of 16 states in North America and Europe have a common goal. The freedom, the common heritage and the civilization of their people based on democracy, the freedom of people and the rule of law are the same as in the preamble of the North Atlantic contract. The real strength of our alliance does not derive solely from the number of troops and weapons. Our alliance is strong because the citizens of 16 North American and European countries have a common goal. They are determined to safeguard the freedom, the common heritage and civilization of their peoples founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. This goal is laid down in the preamble to the North Atlantic Treaty. These foundations of our equal partnership and our deep-fated friendship have to be realized and especially among our young citizens. Because our common basic convictions are the key to unity. And from this unity the strength of our goals is created. The security of peace is freedom through firmness and willingness to act. The competitive, economic and social stability and fair and helpful cooperation with the countries of the Third World. We must constantly remind ourselves and in particular our young fellow citizens of these foundations of our equal partnership and of our deep friendship because our shared fundamental convictions are the key to unity. And from unity ensues the strength to attain our goals, to safeguard peace and freedom through firmness and the readiness for negotiation to ensure economic and social stability and to cooperate fairly and constructively with the countries of the Third World. Eight American presidents and six German Chancellor of the Year have ignored all of the internal political changes in our countries and have ignored changes in the government to contribute to the German-American partnership. For us Germans there is also gratitude, a part of our friendship with America. Despite domestic changes in our countries and changes of government, eight American presidents and six German chancellors have contributed towards German-American partnership. For us Germans, gratitude too is an element of our friendship with America. My generation, my wife and myself experienced after the war as a child as a student that we Americans have helped in our hunger. My generation, my wife and I know from our experience that after terrible war, when we were still children and pupils and students, the Americans saved us, not only from hunger. And you have forgotten what the care action, what hunger aid and what the hunger meal meant to us in the past few days. We have not forgotten what the Hoover aid program and what the Quaker aid program and the care parcel action has meant for us at that time. Americans have contributed to the construction of our free German state, at the construction and construction of our basic law, especially at the catalogue of the basic law. We thank the American experience a lot. The Americans helped us to build a free state and our constitution, especially the catalog of basic rights, owes much to the American experience of democracy. Today, in my country, 245,000 American soldiers welcome us with their families. They do their job in addition to the 500,000 soldiers of our federal army and the soldiers of five other federal partners. What can the President do to ensure that we are all united? Today, there are 245,000 American troops and their families in our country. Where they are welcome guests, these troops serve together with 500,000 members of the Bundeswehr and the forces of five other allied countries. What clearer proof could there be, Mr. President, that we are dependent on one another? I am beside the starkest point between Germany and the United States and I convey particularly warm regards to all of them today on my first visit to Washington as federal chancellor. This year will mark the tricentennial of the first wave of German immigrants to America and to mark this occasion, Germans and Americans intend to hold a big celebration together. We will recall our common origins and from this past draw strength, courage and confidence for our common future. Mr. President, let us begin the anniversary of our previous year in a very close, very intense and very fruitful German-American cooperation. Here and today we want to start with this. I look forward to this cooperation. Mr. President, let us make the forthcoming anniversary the start of a period of particularly close, intensive and fruitful German-American cooperation. Let us start here and now. I'm looking forward to this cooperation. Thank you very much.