740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–745: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—1:37 a.m.]
12851. 1. British have now agreed to Dept’s model note (Deptel 9901, November 10 to London, repeated 5257 Paris, 1845 Madrid, 1768 Lisbon, 2083 Stockholm, 3271 Bern) and are dropping Paris draft. British have telegraphed Washington and other missions accordingly. Text of British draft note which follows very closely Dept’s note is being transmitted to Dept (Embtel 12852 December 7 to Dept,54 repeated Paris 779 for Angell). Missions please request text from British colleagues.
2. Main difference in text British note is omission of phrase “acting on behalf of Control Council” in first sentence, penultimate paragraph, Dept’s note, in order to forestall any possibility Russian participation MEWFO urges similar change in Dept’s note and feels strongly in view British concessions particularly their agreement to Washington as situs for negotiations, we should give way on this point.
3. British urge soonest possible presentation notes and therefore feel that unless Missions have compelling local reasons for proposing [Page 919] changes, our notes should be presented as now drafted subject modification urged paragraph 2 above.
4. British advise Swiss Minister London has approached Foreign Secretary expressing willingness discuss Safehaven and suggesting Bern as situs for discussions. In view this development, British think advisable negotiate with Swiss first and, if so, they suggest notes to Sweden. Spain and Portugal should request answer regarding negotiations “at a very early date”. British state our proposed schedule negotiations is “very optimistic”.
5. We discussed with Brandt Dept’s position that presentation of notes be delayed until agreement reached with British and French on sanctions (Deptel 10595, December 6 to London55 repeated 5708 Paris for Angell). He expressed no dissent and merely stated that we must await Dept’s promised telegram regarding sanctions. He emphasized again the necessity for soonest possible action.
6. We invite Dept’s specific attention to second sentence of fifth paragraph of Dept’s note which indicates our intention to devote German external assets to “relief, reparation and rehabilitation of countries devastated by German aggression”. This statement appears also in British note. MEWFO has queried whether UK would obtain its share as a “devastated country”. Apparently they are satisfied on this point. We feel that under this provision the UK’s [U.S.?] could not claim any part of German external assets for itself and Ave therefore assume that our authorities have decided to forego any share thereof. If our assumption is incorrect, then this provision should be changed.
Sent Dept as 12851; repeated 778 Paris for Angell, 367 Bern, 677 Stockholm, 318 Madrid, 261 Lisbon.