Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

740.00119 EAC/5–1345: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, May 13, 1945—1 a.m.
[Received May 13—12:30 a.m.]

4783. Comea 241. In accordance with Department’s 3690, May 11, 4 p.m., repeated to Paris as Department’s 2005, 1 informed Massigli this afternoon of the proposed French zone to be formed out of the United States zone of occupation in Germany. I had Mosely hand Massigli a description of the proposed French areas as follows. Beginning of text.

1. The territory of Germany south and west of a line drawn as follows: from the point at which the southern boundary of Regierungsbezirk Karlsruhe leaves the Rhine River along the southern and eastern boundaries of Regierungsbezirk Karlsruhe to the point where the eastern boundary of Regierungsbezirk Karlsruhe meets the western boundary of Kreis Leonberg in the State of Württemberg; thence along the western and southern boundaries of Kreis Leonberg, Kreis Boblingen and Kreis Nurtingen to the point where the southern boundary of Kreis Nurtingen meets the southern boundary of Kreis Munsingen thence along the northern boundary of Kreis Munsingen to the point where that boundary meets the Reichsautobahn; thence along the southern boundary of the Reichsautobahn to the point where the latter meets the eastern boundary of Kreis Munsingen; thence along the eastern boundaries of Kreis Munsingen, Kreis Ehingen, Kreis Biberach and Kreis Wangen to the point at which the eastern boundary of Kreis Wangen meets the eastern boundary of Kreis Lindau in the State of Bavaria; thence along the eastern boundary of Kreis Lindau to the point where the latter meets the 1937 boundary of the German Reich with Austria; thence west and north along the 1937 boundaries of the German Reich with Austria, Switzerland and France respectively to the point of departure.

2. An area east of the Rhine River near Koblenz comprising the Kreis of Unterwesterwald, Unterlahn and Sankt Goarshausen. End of text.

Mosely handed Massigli a map marked “unofficial” setting forth the two areas.

In presenting this description of the two areas to Massigli, we stressed (1) United States need for Frankfurt and Kassel as principal centers in its zone; (2) United States need of full transit facilities to low countries ports as well as to Bremen; (3) unimpeded access to and use of the River Rhine; and (4) full right of transit across the proposed French zone.

Massigli’s immediate reaction was favorable. He put forward the personal suggestion that the French Zone be extended northward in Baden to include the Kreis of Freedenstadt, Baden-Baden and Rastatt.⁵⁴ We offered to take this suggestion under advisement.

Sent to Department, repeated to Paris as my 259. Please show to Ambassador Murphy.

Winant

54. The Ambassador in the United Kingdom in telegram 4865, May 16, 1 p.m., made a correction to this sentence, reporting that “Massigli obviously intended to refer to the Kreise of Buhl, Baden-Baden and Rastatt as a possible extension northward of the French Zone.” (740.00119 E.A.C./5–1645)