125. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany1
1813. Ref: Bonn 2185; Ecbus 639.2
Kennedy Round
Agree that Germans should have immediate and authoritative response to their query as to what US position would be on Five negotiating for Community. You are therefore authorized to inform Germans at appropriate high level as follows:
US is negotiating in Kennedy Round with Commission acting on behalf of Community. Whether Commission’s instructions come from Six member States or from Five acting for Community is internal matter for determination by EEC members involved. If Five decide to give Commission instructions enabling it to resume effective participation in KR, US would be prepared to proceed with negotiations on that basis.
It is important that it not become known that that we have responded to Germans just prior to Luxembourg meeting. You should therefore ask Germans to keep fact of our response in strictest confidence.
Other addressees may in their discretion state this position if asked.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, ECIN 3 EEC. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Thomas O. Enders (EUR/RPE); cleared by STR, EUR/RPE, E, U, and the White House; and approved by Schaetzel. Also sent to Brussels for the Embassy and Busec and repeated to Rome, The Hague, London, Geneva, Luxembourg, and Paris.↩
- Telegram 2185 from Bonn, January 26, reported that although the EEC discussions at Luxembourg had been conducted in a good atmosphere, the French had so far conceded nothing. It added that a German official had asked “unofficially” what the U.S. position would be on negotiating with the five members of the Community who were in agreement. Ecbus 639, January 27, stated that the Germans ought to know the U.S. position on negotiating with the Five before they returned to Luxembourg and recommended that Washington say the United States was negotiating with the EEC whether its instructions came from all its members or only Five acting for it. (Both ibid.)↩