Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Germany and Austria, Volume II

740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–448: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State

top secret   us urgent

London, June 4, 1948—8 p. m.

2476. Embtel 2405, June 1.¹ Bevin this morning said that he had very serious doubts about the wisdom of any communication to the Soviet along the lines of and under the circumstances envisaged in the suggestion that Massigli, at the request of Bidault, had made.

It was his view that Moscow should merely be informed that the recommendations referred to in the communiqué on the talks on Germany had been agreed to by the three western occupying powers, and that the program which they contemplated would be carried out.

He thought it unwise to extend an invitation, even though limited, to become associated in the political organization.²

Douglas

1. Supra.
2. Telegram 2098, June 4, to London, not printed, replied that the Department agreed with Bevin’s views (740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–448).