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

740.00119 Control (Germany)/10–3145: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

Berlin, October 31, 1945—9 a.m.
[Received 12:03 p.m.]

892. With further reference to Dept’s 646, of October 10, our military authorities have given careful study to the question of political and administrative unity of Baden and Wurttemberg and especially to the Dept’s reference to the American commitment to the French Govt to review at some future date the assignment of areas of occupation in the light of prevailing conditions and requirements.

While this matter is still under discussion here, informally everyone is unfavorable to transfer of Northern Baden to French administration now. The following points are made:

a. We must have Rhine ports for our own and German needs. We cannot expect successful operation under the French.

b. Transfer further reduces our light industry resources.

c. In any event, we should make no concessions to French in their present position opposing Potsdam decision relative establishment of German central machinery.³⁹

d. It is a cultural and liberal area, Baden being most democratic of German regionals and is furnishing liberal leadership for democratic processes.

e. Psychologically, it would make all, including Germans, believe that either we are gradually withdrawing or we are unwilling to stand up to the French, which lowers prestige of U.S. in Europe.

f. While no one here likes present northern Wurttemberg–northern Baden combination, any fear that Germans will not make it work is unfounded because population would make it work rather than go under, French control.

It should be said that the present zone boundaries, in practice, have proved to be very unsatisfactory to American occupation authorities. The disregard of political and administrative lines has raised a practice of questionable ad hoc arrangements with the French in order to meet the needs of the population. The situation in Baden is probably worse than in Württemberg, but in both cases the situation in the northern or American portions of the two states is distinctly better than in the southern or French sections. The French policy has been to live off the country, to remove as much as possible for shipment back to France, and to make little effort to restore normal public services. It is considered that as winter approaches the situation in southern Baden and southern Württemberg may become critical.

It is felt that any revision of the present zone boundaries should:

a. Follow administrative and political boundaries.

b. Promote the re-building of a democratic and federal Germany and facilitate the purposes of the occupation.

c. Eliminate existing administrative difficulties and improve the functioning of govt in the areas concerned.

Some of our authorities here, such as Dr. James K. Pollock, who is a specialist on German govt, urge that the French be induced to withdraw from southern Württemberg as well as from southern Baden, turning over these areas to American control. They also urge that the Landkreis Lindau, Bavaria, be restored to American control. They also recommend that Rheinhessen, which is the area around Mainz and a part of Land Hessen, should be included within the American zone. These specialists point out that the city of Mannheim is of particular importance to the American authorities in the field of water transportation; that the city of Heidelberg with its University is a cultural center of value in the re-education of Germany. It is also the largest undamaged city in Germany, a fact of no mean significance in a country where shelter is at a premium. Seventh Army Headquarters are situated at Heidelberg. We would gain little by a transfer of southern Württemberg to our control and we would lose much by the transfer of northern Baden to the French and the French would be giving up areas they are not now dealing with effectively.

Murphy

39. For this decision, see the Report on the Tripartite Conference of Berlin, which includes text of the agreement on “The Political and Economic Principles To Govern the Treatment of Germany in the Initial Control Period”, paragraph 9, Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 1503. For documentation on French opposition to the decision on central machinery, see ante, pp. 861 ff.