740.00119 Control (Germany)/7–3047: Telegram
The Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
1816. 1. Despite cordial and congratulatory mood occasioned by Sokolovsky’s return after two months absence and his receipt of Lenin order on fiftieth birthday, 67th ACC July 30 failed to bridge disagreement on audience for German Ministers Presidents (mytel 1759, July 2465). Mentioning both draft statements criticized allies British member described Munich document as generally objective and moderate whereas Soviet zone declaration was malicious in many respects. Should Soviet zone representatives still wish to present document he opposed their reception since their object apparently was to exploit allied differences. US member regretted US press leakage on [Page 879] previous discussion of question. There was no subject which US was unwilling to see discussed by Germans but discussion must consist of constructive proposals, not destructive criticism. Clay affirmed he was not prepared to receive the Soviet zone German officials who made statements in question as long as latter remained expression of their views.
Soviet member engaged in long casuistical argument to effect that Munich and Soviet zone delegations described German situation as they saw it, that ACC could not force them to do otherwise, that neither delegation described present conditions as due to allies, that ACC had not asked either delegation for specific answers and that initiative for audience came from Munich Conference, that ACC had declared readiness two months ago to receive delegations and could not now conveniently refuse because statements were now not acceptable, etc. He said Soviet delegation had no objection to receiving representatives from all Laender. French opposed acceptance of documents and since there was no further discussion it was agreed question should be dropped from agenda and that each delegation in its discretion would inform Ministers Presidents in its zone.
[Here follow reports on other items considered by the Allied Control Council at this meeting.]
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The German Ministers President met in conference in Munich on June 6, 1947, but the representatives of the Soviet zone withdrew soon after the conference opened. On June 9, the Ministers President assembled in Munich required the Allied Control Council to receive a delegation which would present the resolutions adopted by the conference. On June 20, the Ministers President of the Soviet zone asked the Allied Control Council for an opportunity to give their views on German economic and political unity. Telegram 1759, July 24, from Berlin, not printed, reporting on the 130th Meeting of the Allied Coordinating Committee, read in part as follows:
↩“In connection with suggested ACC audience of German Ministers-President CORC considered resolutions of Munich conference and inflammatory draft statement from Soviet zone Ministers President. British member [Brownjohn] declared Munich resolutions generally acceptable whereas Soviet zone statement consisted impertinent diatribe against western zones and credited western nations with intent of ‘tearing up Germany.’ While he was prepared for such remarks from his Soviet colleague, he would not accept them from Germans. US member [Keating] characterized statement as untrue and malicious criticism of western powers and said he was not prepared to receive officially now, or at any time, those responsible for it.” (740.00119 Control (Germany)/7–2447)