Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, Council of Foreign Ministers; Germany and Austria, Volume II

740.00119 Council/12–1247: Telegram

The United States Delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers to President Truman, the Acting Secretary of State, and Others

confidential
urgent

London, December 12, 1947—7 p.m.

6457. Delsec 1543. For the President, Vandenberg, Connally, Eaton, Bloom, and Lovett. Sixteenth CFM meeting, December 12, Bidault presiding, discussed a proposal⁵⁵ that each occupying power provide the Council with information on the type and amount of reparation removals from its zone up to the present. Marshall suggested that this information be furnished to the Council by next Monday. Molotov sought to amend the proposal so as to make the furnishing of information conditional on reaching a general agreement on reparations. He renewed his accusations that the western powers had taken profits out of their zones. Bevin reacted strongly to these charges and again categorically denied them. Both he and Marshall offered to provide the information⁵⁶ on reparation removals from their zones at once and pressed Molotov to reveal what the USSR has taken as reparations from the Soviet zone. Molotov said he would answer when he discussed reparations.

Molotov reintroduced a Soviet proposal⁵⁷ that the Ruhr industrial region should be placed under the joint control of the four powers, but the proposal was not accepted. Molotov then asked the Council to nullify, as contravening the economic unity of Germany, the agreement unifying economically the US and UK zones.⁵⁸ Marshall categorically denied Molotov’s charge that there exists a plan to unite the French, US, and UK zones. He added that the US-UK fusion agreement would be ended when full four power agreement is reached on the economic unity of Germany, including all phases of reparations.⁵⁹ Bevin again said the US and UK zones were fused because the Potsdam plan for economic unity had not been carried out and that he would be the first to agree to end the fusion if the Council reached full agreement on economic principles for Germany. Bidault denied there is a plan to combine the French zone with the US and UK zones.

Molotov raised the question of reparations from Germany⁶⁰ and accused the western powers of denying to the USSR the amount of reparations which had been promised in previous agreements. In a long statement,⁶¹ he charged among many other things that the western powers are hindering the economic revival of Germany and that reparations from current production could be paid to the Soviet Union if German industry were allowed to produce without hindrances. His attack was directed mainly against the US, which he said was trying not only to enslave Germany by furnishing economic aid but also to make of Germany a strategic base against the democratic states of Europe.

Marshall said it was evident that Molotov’s remarks were not intended to be used as a basis for Council discussion but were intended solely for propaganda purposes. He said Molotov’s speech, considering that it was given before the Council of Foreign Ministers, reflected on the dignity of the Government of the Soviet Union.

Bevin said Molotov’s insults would be resented throughout the British Commonwealth. He added that Molotov could at least have ended his speech by thanking his colleagues for listening to the end. Bidault said Molotov’s charges against France were contrary to the fact and adjourned the Council until tomorrow.

Repeated to Moscow, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome.

55. Paragraph 31 of document CFM(47) (L)7, November 27, 1947, p. 788.
56. For Secretary Marshall’s reaction to Molotov’s accusations, see telegram 6458, Delsec 1545, December 12, infra.
57. Paragraph 4 of document CFM (47) (5)22, December 8, 1947, p. 790.
58. CFM(47) (L)22, paragraph 8.
59. For a further report on the exchange between Secretary Marshall and Molotov on this matter, see telegram 6458, Delsec 1545, infra.
60. Part II of CFM(47) (L)22.
61. For the text of Molotov’s statement, circulated to the Council as document CFM(47) (L)31, December 12, see Molotov, Problems of Foreign Policy, pp. 531–540 or Documents on International Affairs, 1947–1948, pp. 515–521.