740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–645: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 7—6:39 a.m.]
3358. Referring to my telegram sent through War Dept channels last evening.34 Gen Eisenhower (see FWD 23724 to AGWAR June 6) is informing the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the condition very firmly stated yesterday by Marshal Zhukov that Allied troops in occupied Germany be redistributed in their respective zones and that a governmental decision regarding the delimitation of those zones be made prior to organization of the Control Council. Marshal Zhukov left no doubt in our minds that the Russian position rested on the idea that these preliminary actions were necessary before any detailed consideration could be given to the operation of the Control Council.
In response to Gen Eisenhower’s suggestion at the end of the ceremony of the signing of the Four Power Declaration yesterday in Berlin that it would now be appropriate for the four Deputies to get together for a detailed discussion of the time and place and certain phases of the operation [Zhukov said it would be out?] of the question for the business of the Council at this stage to be done by the Deputies as “this would be unsuccessful,” and that the Council’s operation would require the regular attendance of the four members of the Council. He seemed to ignore the existence of the Coordinating Committee and, as one of the officers present put it, “he did not seem to have read the book at all”. Gen. Eisenhower emphasized that by the signing of the Four Power Declaration establishing the supreme authority in Germany, an Allied Military Govt had thus been constituted.
During the course of the conversation, Gen. Eisenhower requested Marshal Montgomery to state the British position. Montgomery explained that a certain period of time was required to make the necessary readjustments in the British zone. He thought that while this redistribution was progressing a detailed examination of a lot of questions could begin. This could be started by the Deputies. Zhukov replied that all principal questions must be decided by the Commanding Generals in collaboration with their political advisers. Montgomery pointed out that the political advisers would be present at all meetings of the Deputies. Marshal Zhukov said that now that the battle was over, redistribution should not take very long, and inquired how long, in Marshal Montgomery’s opinion, it would take. Montgomery replied that off hand he would say about 3 weeks would [Page 331] be necessary. The mention of a specific time factor seemed to be very pleasing both to Zhukov and Vishinski. The latter had mentioned that it would not be possible for the Russian element of the Control Council to plan for military govt of an area still occupied by Allied troops, mentioning especially Thuringia. While Gen De Lattre de Tassigny and his staff also attended this first informal meeting of the four members of the Control Council which was held on the veranda of an officers building in the suburbs of Koepenick, Berlin, on the banks of the Spree River, the French Delegation made no suggestions during the discussions. The meeting terminated with agreement that the matter of redistribution of the troops is one which is for Govt decision and that each member present would refer the question to his Govt for action.
Some of our officers were discouraged with the results of the day’s visit to Berlin because they felt that the Russians had organized it badly and that the latter gave no evidence of ability to work in a quadripartite control mechanism. As the Dept will note from Gen Eisenhower’s telegram the recommendation is made that the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff give consideration in their planning to the possibility that the control of Germany may evolve into either a tripartite control by the western powers plus a separate Russian control in the eastern provinces, or a treatment based on four separate zones. These considerations, of course, would be of vital importance to economic and political planning. I feel that we witnessed yesterday a Soviet effort to bargain for the removal of our forces from the zone which has been approved by the governments as theirs. In that respect their position seems to be sound. For the Dept’s secret information, I believe that Gen Eisenhower does not consider that the retention of our forces in the Russian zone is wise or that it will be productive of advantages. I believe that it is pretty obvious to all concerned that we really are desirous of removing our forces and that it is only a question of time when we will inevitably do so. The Russians on the other hand may well be content temporarily to consolidate their present position in the territory they hold. In the interim, no progress would under such a circumstance be made in the organization of the quadripartite control of Germany, to which we are committed. I do not believe there is ground here for new discouragement but on the contrary I find that definite progress has been made. I am convinced that Russians believe the Control Council necessary and that it is in their own interest to have it operate.
Gen Eisenhower has invited Marshal Zhukov to visit him at Frankfurt on Jim 10 and Zhukov has accepted. This will afford a further opportunity to go into more detailed discussions than yesterday’s brief visit to Berlin offered and at same time we may be able to obtain from Vishinski and the Soviet staff some information and data regarding [Page 332] Soviet control operations in the territory which they now occupy.
One additional point may be worthy of mention. In referring to Gen Eisenhower’s suggestion for an immediate meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Control Council which was made at the end of the signing ceremony yesterday Zhukov’s interpreter referred to the Control Council as the “control party” Zhukov interrupted to correct the interpreter by describing it as the “control Soviet”.