740.00119 Control (Germany)/5–2947: Telegram

The Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

secret

1287. Dismal atmosphere of disagreement prevented 123rd [meeting] Coordinating Committee May 28 from completing more than half of agenda.47 Items bearing on CFM decisions48 reported below. Dratvin has succeeded less rigid member Kurochkin, who is reported to have left Berlin permanently.

(1)
CORC distributed agreed CFM decisions to various directorates for action. Land reform referred to ECON for periodical progress reports. British chairman considered it waste of time to place on ACC agenda at present date list of disagreed questions in part 1, CFM document 148. Soviet member dissented stating ACC should attempt to resolve these disagreements preparatory to November CFM. CORC adopted solution that these questions could be raised in [Page 870] pertinent directorates on initiative of any member prepared to discuss them.
(2)
With respect to reduction of armed forces, deadlock reached on definition and numbers (mytel 1107, May 749). US and Britain insisted limitation should apply to all military personnel. Soviet and French maintained it should apply only to occupation forces exclusive of military personnel serving with and assisting military government administrations. French however prepared to consider limitation on latter. British and US ready to agree to any reasonable limit on latter group, and British chairman asked Soviet if he could accept 10,000 maximum. Latter replied he could only give figure for occupation forces. With respect to Soviet proposal maintained in ACA that US and Britain should have combined strength of 200,000 as against same figure for Soviet zone, British chairman stated that despite high regard for US, he opposed sharing armies and must insist on separate quota. He would accept 200,000 for Soviets provided Britain were authorized same maximum, which however, they might not utilize. Citing larger areas and populations of US-British zones, US member asked reason for parity of occupation forces claimed by Soviets. Soviet member said he could not answer and that he adhered to figure proposed for US-British zones. Question referred to Control Council May 31 meeting.
(3)
In view of bitter feelings engendered in economic directorate over Soviet obstructionism in delaying departure of inter-allied commissions investigating war industrial potential, British Chairman expressed pessimism regarding agreement and proposed deferment of discussion pending completion of plan by July 1 for liquidation of category one plants as directed by CFM (mytel 665, March 1950). In reply to French question, Soviet member stated he agreed to dispatch of investigating teams although British member pointed out doubt existed as to their competence under directive 39. Coordinating Committee decided teams should depart within ten days and that ECON in meantime should complete category one liquidation plan and submit report on work of first group of teams dispatched in January.

Repeated London as 206, to Paris as 219 and to Moscow as 333.

Murphy
  1. The state of affairs in the Coordinating Committee had been described by Murphy in telegram 1107, May 7, from Berlin, not printed, as follows:

    “Although marked by cordiality 121st meeting Coordinating Committee May 7 was largely unproductive and side-stepped most issues presented to it. Memory fails as to when in recent months Coordinating Committee has succeeded in reconciling differences in directorates resulting from largely Soviet and not infrequent French intransigeance.

    “In present state of impotence of control authority tendency has developed whereby Coordinating Committee has not attempted to debate conflicting positions of delegations in directorates but merely withdraws papers from agenda.” (740.00119 Control (Germany)/5–747).

  2. The decisions with respect to Germany of the Council of Foreign Ministers at its Fourth Session, Moscow, March 10–April 24, 1947, were transmitted to the Allied Control Council for Germany in document CFM (47) (M) 158, May 10, 1947, p. 470.
  3. Not printed; it reported that the Coordinating Committee had decided to initiate action on decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers regarding the reduction of occupation forces in Germany without waiting for receipt of the official text of the CFM decisions (740.00119 Control (Germany)/5–747). At its 61st Meeting, May 10, 1947, the Control Council had confirmed the Committee’s action.
  4. Not printed.