Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Council of Foreign Ministers, Volume II

740.00119 Council/11–146

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Central European Affairs (Riddleberger)

[Washington,] November 1, 1946.

Participants:	Dr. A. Loudon, Netherlands Ambassador;
	Baron Silvercruys, Belgian Ambassador;
	Mr. Hugues Le Gallais, Luxembourg Minister;
	Mr. Dean Acheson, Under Secretary of State;
	Mr. James W. Riddleberger, Chief Division of Central European Affairs.

The attached notes from the Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg Embassies were handed to Mr. Acheson by the respective representatives this afternoon.²⁸ The three notes are expressed in almost identical terms and, after recalling the proposal of Bidault in the July session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, request that their governments “be associated from the beginning” when the future status of Germany is discussed in the CFM.

Both the Dutch and Belgian Ambassadors recalled that there had been earlier correspondence between their missions and the Department on this subject in which the Department had expressed its desire to accord sympathetic consideration to a request of this character. All three representatives emphasized the importance which their respective governments attached to this approach and informed us that similar notes were being delivered today in London, Paris and Moscow.

In response to a question from the Belgian Ambassador whether the American Government could express now and perhaps make public its attitude toward this request, the Under Secretary replied that he had discussed this possibility with the Secretary and that the Secretary would have, of course, to refer this request to the CFM before any definite answer could be given. With reference to publicity, Mr. Acheson stated that if inquiries were made on this subject the State Department would reply that the request had been presented and that our position was that this question would have to be considered in the CFM. Mr. Acheson saw no point however in engaging in a public debate on this request before it could be considered by the CFM. It was then agreed that the three representatives would inform the press of their démarche.

It was recalled that in Paris the Secretary of State had agreed that representatives of the three governments could be kept informed on German developments, particularly of conversations in the CFM. Mr. Acheson stated that he and Mr. Riddleberger had been authorized by the Secretary to do this and that one or the other would be available to convey such information as we possessed. Mr. Acheson suggested that this could best be done in Washington rather than in New York, as that was a more orderly method. This was agreed to and the three missions will probably make arrangements for regular contacts with CE.

The Luxembourg Minister asked Mr. Riddleberger if subsequently he could get in touch with him in New York as he had no staff in Washington. Mr. Riddleberger agreed that this could be done and that he would so arrange it when both of them were in New York City.

(Attached hereto is a draft reply to the respective notes based upon the statements made by the Under Secretary. If this draft is approved, please return to CE for final preparation of replies).²⁹

28. The notes, all dated November 1, 1946, are not printed.

29. Draft reply not printed. The Department replied to the Netherlands, Belgian, and Luxembourg notes in identical memoranda, mutatis mutandis, dated November 8, 1946, which read as follows:

    “The Department of State has examined with sympathetic consideration the request set forth in the Netherlands Embassy’s communication of November 1, 1946, requesting that the Netherlands Government be associated from the beginning in discussions in the Council of Foreign Ministers on the subject of Germany. The Department has also been informed that similar requests are being presented simultaneously to the Governments of France, the U.S.S.R. and the United Kingdom.

    “As this request will obviously have to be considered by the Council of Foreign Ministers, it is not possible to give a definite reply at this time. The Secretary of State will, however, be glad to see this request placed upon the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Council.” (740.00119 Council/11–146)