740.00119 Control (Germany)/10–2747: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
urgent
5721. For Secretary and Lovett from the Ambassador. At meeting this a.m., necessarily short because of conditions explained in Embtels 5719, October 27 and 5720, October 27,95 Bevin discussed our request (as reported to him from Washington) relative renegotiation of the fusion agreement that British make written commitment that British troops be retained in Germany until July 1, 1948. He urged that no formal written commitment be required and gave the following reasons:
- 1.
- The British Government has no intention whatsoever to withdraw British troops below the figure given to us during the period in question, provided US assumes the UK dollar expenditures on account of Germany. This commitment orally has been given to the US before. He reiterated it to me again today.
- 2.
- The announcement of a date would imply that the British Government might be considering withdrawing troops thereafter. It would probably, therefore, give rise to questions in the House of Commons, principally from the left wing, which might otherwise not arise. The questions would presumably be directed toward why, as July first [Page 970] approaches, no plans were being made for the withdrawal of British forces—an action which the British Government does not contemplate and on which it wants to avoid debate.
- 3.
- No dates have been publicly fixed for withdrawal of troops from other identified specific areas. Were a date to be fixed for Germany, questions might be directed toward dates of withdrawals for other areas.
- 4.
- The fixing of a date might prove to be embarrassing if, as Bevin considers not impossible, the Soviets at the forthcoming CFM meeting were to propose the withdrawal of all occupation forces from Germany.
- 5.
- Any plan of the British Government to withdraw or reduce the strength of the British forces of occupation in Germany would be made to the US Government at the time that a renewal of the fusion agreement beyond July 1, 1948 was under negotiation. Even then such a proposal would be put forward well in advance, in time for ample mutual consideration.
Unless General Clay has reasons for doing otherwise, it seems to me, in view of the above considerations and the oral commitment, it would be preferable to accept Bevin’s position.
Bevin asks that no publicity be given to the reasons which he has advanced.
Sent Dept 5721; repeated Berlin for Murphy and Clay 460.
- Neither printed. These messages were not concerned with German affairs.↩