740.00119 EAC/6–1445: Telegram

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

6034. Cornea10 287. Belgian Ambassador11 in letter to EAC June 8 (text by air12) requested clarification status and composition Belgian military mission to be appointed for liaison with Control Council in Germany. Specifically letter asks whether the mission (1) will enjoy status, privileges and immunities usually accorded diplomatic missions and their personnel; (2) will be guaranteed indispensable freedom of action and movement and (3) will be permitted to comprise appropriate personnel to represent different Belgian interests in Germany, notably political, financial, economic and agricultural interests.

EAC will probably consider shortly reply to Belgian Ambassador’s letter together with UK memorandum on representation of foreign countries in Germany (EAC 45/47, May 2; sent with despatch 22877, May 413). Unless otherwise instructed I propose take following [Page 1088] position with respect to Belgian inquiry and British memorandum:

(1)
Military missions of chiefly interested United Nations should enjoy privileges and immunities usually accorded diplomatic missions and their personnel
(2)
Members such missions should have full freedom in performing their functions limited by fundamental principle that they may not deal with any German authorities except through or with permission of control machinery of the Allies. They should also enjoy freedom of movement on understanding that temporary restrictions may have to be laid down by Control Council as result of conditions in Germany, especially practical difficulties of providing transport, food and housing
(3)
There is no objection to appointment of civilian experts to these military missions, although Control Council may restrict total number of personnel serving on such missions
(4)
We should permit other United Nations not included in list of chiefly interested United Nations (paragraph 2 Brit memorandum May 2) and neutral countries to nominate “agencies” (rather than “civil agencies” referred to in UK memo) represent them in Germany
(5)
Control Council will determine extent of privileges and immunities to be granted such agencies. Use of, code and uncensored pouch should be accorded missions and agencies of all United Nations, but not necessarily or of right to agencies of all neutrals
(6)
Four govts represented in EAC should as soon as possible jointly invite chiefly interested United Nations listed in British memorandum to appoint military missions, the time of their entry into Germany to be fixed by Control Council.

Sent to Dept as 6034; repeated to Paris as 365 (for Murphy14).

Winant
  1. Series designation for telegrams from the Ambassador in the United Kingdom concerned with the work of the European Advisory Commission.
  2. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, Belgian Ambassador in the United Kingdom.
  3. The letter from the Belgian Ambassador, which was circulated in the European Advisory Commission as document E.A.C. (45) 60, dated June 13, 1945, and entitled “Status and Composition of the Military Mission to be Appointed by the Belgian Government to the Control Council in Germany”, was transmitted to the Department in despatch 23706, June 15, from London, not printed.
  4. Despatch not printed; for memorandum by the United Kingdom Representative on the European Advisory Commission, May 2, see supra.
  5. Robert D. Murphy, United States Political Adviser for Germany.