862t.01/39: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Davis )

359. Your 560. April 7.

On March 26 Department authorized Wallace to state to Millerand that American Government had been kept informed of discussions which had taken place in Council of Ambassadors on subject of giving permission to German Government to send additional troops into neutral zone and that in opinion of this Government such permission should be granted if additional troops appeared necessary to restore orderly conditions. Wallace was also authorized to state that this Government considered that further occupation of German territory had no bearing on matter and should not be contemplated, since additional German forces in neutral zone were to be permitted only until order was restored.

This message was delivered to Millerand on March 29 and he requested information as to whether American Government did not believe that Germany should give some guarantee that the troops would eventually be withdrawn from neutral zone. Department answered this inquiry on April 2 stating that it remained the opinion of this Government “that advance of Allied troops into unoccupied Germany could only have unfortunate consequences in further irritating Germans perhaps even to extent of bringing about common action between communist forces in Ruhr region and German Government troops. In such event the situation would indeed be critical.” Department further stated that “German counter-proposal that if German troops remained in Ruhr district more than four weeks French should have right to occupy Frankfort region is sufficient guarantee of German withdrawal and this arrangement Department would approve.”

Since it is understood that British, Belgian, and Italian Governments have already expressed to French Government their disapproval of advance into unoccupied territory of French troops, and since the American attitude on the subject was already known by French Government, this Government is inclined to make no formal protest at this time but rather to await developments of the next few days.

Colby