740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–2146: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 21—1:39 p.m.]
2971. Mytel 2956, December 20.19 Coordinating Committee at 96th meeting December 21 dealt solely with assignments of various directorates in preparation of ACC report to CFM. French expressed view that report should concern itself mainly with progress of work accomplished by ACC and with particular reference to subject of central administrations, stated they had no instructions to make recommendations and mentioned that French position had not changed. Clay said in that case each delegation might as well submit four separate reports, thus admitting complete failure of quadripartite government. It was decided Political Directorate should prepare history of question of central administrations and that thereafter Coordinating Committee itself should discuss recommendations which any delegation might care to offer.
Completed reports of directorates called for by first week in February for submission to Coordinating Committee and ACC before transmission of final report to CFM by February 25. Schedule of topics will be despatched by mail.
Attitude of Soviet Delegation was unusually trying and meticulous [Page 655] regarding details affecting preparation of this report for CFM. We interpret their approach to this task as indicating desire to use report as vehicle of criticism of policies and accomplishments in western zones of Germany and we believe Soviet representatives will endeavor to slant it in their favor in order to provide basis most favorable to USSR during March discussions.
It was understanding of this CORC meeting that each delegation would be permitted to voice its views on several topics to be included in report in event unanimity of view is not attainable.
Sent Dept as 2971, repeated Moscow as 425, London as 423 and Paris as 409.
- Not printed; this telegram reported on the 50th Meeting of the Allied Control Council at which the Coordinating Committee was directed to submit by January 10, 1947, a plan for the report which the Council of Foreign Ministers had requested of the Allied Control Council by February 25 (740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–2046). The report was to cover the work of the Control Council on such matters as demilitarization, denazification, democratization, economic problems, reparations, the establishment of central administrations, and liquidation of Prussia. The proposal for a report from the Control Council was based on a memorandum, December 6, submitted to the Council of Foreign Ministers by the United States delegation, volume ii.↩