740.00119 Control (Germany)/5–445
The Secretary of War (Stimson) and the
Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: The Joint Chiefs of Staff
concur in the recommendation of General Eisenhower in the attached copy
of his cable on the subject of the French zone in Germany and recommend
that it be used as a basis for negotiation in the European Advisory
Commission. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the bridgehead of
the Rhine east of Koblenz in the State of Hessen-Nassau comprising
Unterwester Waldkreis, Unterlahn Kreis and Sankt Goarshausen Kreis
should be given to the French if they ask for it.
This decision supersedes the remarks in the last two sentences of
paragraph 7b (3) and paragraph 8 of the letter
dispatched to the Secretary of State by the Secretaries of War and the
Navy on 1 May 1945 on this matter.3
Sincerely yours,
H Struve Hensel
4
Henry L. Stimson
Secretary of War
[Enclosure]
Message to Joint Chiefs of Staff from
Eisenhower
Subject is French zone in Germany.
- 1.
- My previous recommendations concerning French zone in Germany
were made without detailed study of logistical considerations
and natural resources in the area under consideration. These
studies have now been made, and I wish to change my
recommendation to the following:
- 2.
- It is satisfactory to us to give the French the area in the
state of Wurttemberg south of the Autobahn and railway
connecting Karlsruhe-Stuttgart
[Page 262]
and Ulm as denned by the following Kreis
boundaries: Leonberg, Boblingen, Nurtigen, Goppingen, Ulm, and
that portion of Munsingen northeast of Autobahn, inclusive to
United States. Also the Kreis of Lindau can be conceded to the
French as a corridor to the French Austrian zone.
- 3.
- In the state of Baden it is most desirable that we retain the
Bezirke of Mannheim and Karlsruhe for control of railways,
through road traffic via the Autobahn, oil fields north of city
of Karlsruhe, port and signal installations. Only as a last
resort should the Bezirk of Karlsruhe be released, and under no
circumstances can we relinquish the Bezirk of Mannheim.
- 4.
- If a bridgehead east of the Rhine must be granted I favor the
area east of Koblenz in the state of Hessen Nassau, comprising
Unterwester Waldkries, Unterlahn Kreis, Sankt Goarshausen Kreis.
Can not agree to any bridgehead in the vicinity of Wiesbaden or
Mainz.
- 5.
- In order that there be no misunderstanding request that
amended view as expressed herein be transmitted as ultimate
instructions to Ambassador Caffery through State Department
channels.
- 6.
- I have, however, had a personal conversation with Ambassador
Caffery, who understands my views and our military requirements,
and Murphy will be in constant touch during negotiations.
