740.00119 Control (Germany)/4–1946: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy)
943. Urtel 1059 Apr 19. Dept wholeheartedly approves your proposal to urge question Kommandatura jurisdiction be taken up at coordinating committee meeting Apr 26. If as Soviet rep political directorate recently stated Kommandatura jurisdiction “so self evident it need not be stated in writing”, failure Soviet rep on Kommandatura to act in accordance that self-evident principle is serious matter. It requires most immediate attention in view urgency settling Berlin party situation and of reasserting principle of Kommandatura (quadripartite) control of Berlin.
US position should be made clear in order to leave no doubt as to our realization serious implications of divided Berlin and our continued belief city must be governed quadripartite basis. At same time demand for immediate reassertion Kommandatura authority (required only because of recent Soviet attitude) would clearly demonstrate where responsibility rested in case of breakdown in Kommandatura authority.
Dept believes Gen Barker’s proposal Kommandatura meeting Apr 12 (urtel 1016 Apr 13) eminently reasonable and hopes tactics you proposed (urtel 1059) will accomplish desired results. It is assumed you are in close touch with your Brit and French colleagues.