740.00119 Council/5–1448: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
niact
1752. Personal for Douglas. In Deptel 17101 we sought to meet French security requirements by agreeing to establishment military security board during occupation period and by reaffirming President’s strong statement that we will keep our occupation forces in Germany until peace in Europe is secure. We thought this would be good enough. Re Delsec 1728,2 we can be of further help by agreeing to point 2 (a) in second para, namely, that US would not withdraw troops without prior consultation French and UK. Consultation and endeavor to reach agreement in this matter implicit in the developing US association with western European security. As regards point 3, unilateral French occupation of Germany has an unfortunate history and US can give no commitment in this regard.
Dept can but regret French legalistic approach to question of security against Germany which we are making every effort to resolve in terms larger responsibility re western Europe. Army Department observes that in view political instability of French Govts and certain doubts it entertains whether French will stick by US in Berlin, US Govt would be justified in demanding assurances of French.
Re your first question, we maintain that continued occupation does not depend on four-power agreement but upon fact of total defeat and unconditional surrender of Germany. (See legal memorandum in hands of Oppenheimer3).