Kohl and Major talk abut the forthcoming European Council in  Edinburgh. They discuss the problems of the Maastricht Treaty referenda in Denmark and Great Britain. They emphasize the need to avoid a renewed negotiation on the Maastricht Treaty. Moreover, they debate the question of EC enlargement as a key agenda item in Edinburgh. Kohl makes a bold case to start negotiation on EC enlargement right away and not wait until the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty in Denmark.

This memorandum documents a broader meeting involving senior U.S. and German officials, addressing global challenges and German-American relations. Chancellor Kohl highlighted Germany's domestic recovery post-reunification, acknowledging difficulties in the former East German states and economic adjustments. He praised U.S. leadership in the Middle East peace process and reiterated Germany's refusal to fund Israeli settlements. On Soviet Union matters, Kohl supported aid to stabilize the region but stressed the need for a functioning central government to ensure arms control and economic reforms. He urged a collaborative international response to food aid and debt challenges. Discussions extended to Yugoslavia's disintegration, with concerns about potential civil war and the implications of ethnic and religious divides. Kohl and the U.S. team emphasized cautious engagement to prevent broader European instability. Kohl also highlighted the importance of German-American scientific collaborations and the need to counter Japanese economic influence globally.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

Bush and Kohl discuss Germany's place in Europe and in NATO, its relationship with France, the Uruguay Round of the GATT, and politics in France.