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

740.00119 Control (Germany)/10–1245: Telegram

Major General John H. Hilldring, Director of the Civil Affairs Division, War Department Special Staff, to the United States Deputy Military Governor for Germany (Clay)³⁷

Washington , 20 October 1945—5:57 p.m.

War 77596. Establishment central administrative machinery is subject re CC 16567, Sept CC 1971 Oct.³⁸

1. State and WD in full agreement with you that further delay in establishing central admin machinery as provided for in Berlin protocol would in fact defeat purposes of Control Council as controlling agency for Germany. It is recognized that French govt was not a signatory to and has not subscribed to Berlin protocol and that French are reluctant to accept establishment of extensive central German administration on ground this would prejudice their case for special treatment Rhineland-Ruhr area.

2. However, believed that in absence of any special arrangement for administration of western Germany, Germany must continue to be administered as an economic unit to serve the purposes of the occupation.

3. You are therefore authorized to enter into any arrangement with the Russians and British within the framework of Berlin protocol establishing central admin machinery for those 3 occupation zones. It being understood that such arrangement is for admin purposes only and is not intended to prejudge final disposition to be made of territories within these zones.

37. A draft of this War Department cable was submitted to the State Department for concurrence. Attached to the draft copy in the State Department files is a memorandum of October 12, not printed, by H. Freeman Matthews, Director of the Office of European Affairs, to Benjamin V. Cohen, Counselor of the Department. In his memorandum Mr. Matthews indicates his office’s approval, and requests Mr. Cohen’s concurrence. Mr. Cohen in a memorandum of October 16, not printed, concurs but suggests that the following be added to the final paragraph: “it being understood that such arrangement is for administrative purposes only and is not intended to prejudge the final disposition to be made of the territories within these zones.” Copy of this telegram, as it was sent, was obtained from Department of the Army files.
38. Not printed; in this message, General Clay reported that at the Allied Control Council meeting on October 2, the French had adhered to their previous position of opposing establishment of central communication and transport agencies, or any central administrative machinery, until the Rhineland-Westphalia question had been settled. (Copy of telegram obtained from Department of the Army files.)