740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–1445: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:28 p.m.]
3543. For Matthews. Dept will recall that Gen Eisenhower informed Joint Chiefs of Staff that from a mil point of view there were no grounds for our retaining the Kreis Lindau in connection with zone of occupation to be given French and that our military requirements would be met by arrangements under which French would afford us such transit and communication facilities as we may need. It has always been my view which I have stated informally in discussions here that for reasons of a general political as well as cultural nature we should have direct access to Switz thru Lindau over Lake of Constance and this point is brought out in an emphatic cable from Allen Dulles of OSS which has doubtless been repeated to Wash.45 Gen Eisenhower’s advisers feel and I believe properly that he cannot reverse his earlier opinion that retention of Lindau is unnecessary on mil grounds. I consider however that for reasons above stated we should review matter from standpoint of our retaining Lindau and offering French transit and communications facilities they may require. Since French have increased their original demands and have recently been difficult in negotiations re their zone, amendment of our original offer would seem justified and might place us in a better bargaining position. Apart from this is fact that our zone will be virtually enclosed in heart of Europe and I believe it would be a mistake voluntarily to submit to making our communications with Switz dependent upon an intermediary arrangement.