740.00119 Council/4–3048: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
secret
Washington, April 30,
1948—5 p. m.
1551. Secdel 1568. Dept gratified with progress in discussion of German political organization (Delsec 1696 Apr 281). Without desiring to intervene in current negotiations, as evidence of interest Dept offers following comment on two general issues, both suggested by Brit redraft.
- (1)
- Consider summons to Constituent Assembly might be so stated as to leave open possibility for any German Land to send delegates. We interpret paragraph 1 Brit redraft thus. In this way Constituent Assembly can present itself as establishing, not merely a Western German government, but in principle an all-German government. Presumably Soviet Mil authorities will not permit Eastern Zone Laender to participate, in which case jurisdiction of constitutionally established government will be restricted to Western Zone only through action of Sov authorities or Eastern Zone Land governments.
- (2)
- German federation should be translated “Bundesstaat Deutschland” as in para four Brit redraft. If French were to propose German word Staatenbund, which is closer their original thoughts, it should not be accepted. If French raise point, you might indicate that in centennial year of 1848 Frankfurt Congress it is hardly appropriate to attempt foist on Germans political concepts which ante-date 1848.
Marshall
- Supra.↩