740.00119 Council/1–2547: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy for Germany at the Council of Foreign Ministers ( Murphy )
secret
Washington
, January
28, 1947—6 p.m.
447. Secdel 1266 for Murphy. The Dept desires to give you some guidance with reference to Gousev’s proposal quoted in Delsec 114232 in view of the importance of the proposals contained therein: [Page 15]
- (1)
- We do not feel at this stage certainly that we should bind ourselves to a procedure for a German settlement so closely paralleling the procedure followed for the satellite treaties. This is particularly true with respect to the drafting of the “final text of the peace treaty” by the four powers. We are faced with the difficult problem of reconciling Soviet reluctance to be bound by decisions on issues important to them taken by a majority or two-thirds vote of a large number of states and our desire and that of the other Western states that such states should play a real part in formulating and influencing the German settlement. It is the “veto issue” in another form.
- (2)
- We have likewise been giving thought to some possible form of German settlement other than a peace treaty to be signed by a central German Govt. Therefore, we find numbered Par 2 of the Soviet proposal too rigid. It might also be utilized to induce the setting up of a central German Govt. under conditions which would be unsatisfactory to us. The important first step is to reach Allied agreement with regard to the future pattern or “political organization” of Germany rather than a decision at this time that there should be a peace treaty.
The Dept. will be interested in your further reports of discussions on these questions and will welcome your views and suggestions. Meanwhile we do not wish you to accept any proposal thereon without first consulting the Dept on the text.
Marshall