740.00119 Council/6–1048: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

secret

1331. Personal for Saltzman and Hickerson. In implementation of London decisions, a US, UK, French Political Working Party has been meeting this week to prepare drafts for presentation to Ministers-President on June 15 when military governors meet with them to discuss political decisions of German talks. The committee has concluded its preliminary work and has prepared four papers as follows:1

(1)
A statement summarizing the constitutional decisions (TRI 132).
(2)
A statement outlining the general principles of reserved powers of military governments after constitution becomes effective (TRI 173).
(3)
A statement on Laender reorganization (TRI 134).

These statements follow closely London texts and are only slightly modified for editorial reasons or in order to make them more palatable to German leaders.

There has also been prepared fourth statement with the following text:

“Representatives of the Military Governors will be available to advise and assist the Ministers-President and the Constituent Assembly on any matters which they may bring to their attention.” During the Working Party’s discussions it developed that the French preferred not to have a committee representing the military governors established to carry out this liaison function, but preferred to maintain [Page 376] such liaison by means of individual representatives. General Clay however insisted that there should not only be a committee but that it should make its decisions by a majority vote. The British agreed with this position but French have reserved their attitude until it can be discussed with General Koenig. This question may therefore be discussed by three military governors prior to meeting with Ministers-President. OMGUS director of CAD5 will probably be US member of this committee.

On the assumption that the meeting of military governors with Ministers-President will take place on June 15 and assuming of course French government’s approval before that date, it is now anticipated that there will be preliminary meeting of military governors in Frankfurt on June 14, to be followed by meeting with Ministers-President next day. French member of Political Working Party has tacitly acquiesced in this procedure subject of course to French government’s approval and further consultation with Koenig who is in French zone.6 It is contemplated that meeting on June 15 will take form of oral explanations of London decisions and background by military governors followed by presentation of statements mentioned above. Text of these statements will be transmitted when finally approved by three military governors.

Sent to Department as 1331; repeated London as 228; Paris as 229.

Murphy
  1. For citations to texts of the papers under reference, as handed to German Ministers President as Directives from the Military Governors on July 1, see editorial note, p. 380. The fourth paper referred to here was subsequently included as an annex to the 3rd paper or directive.
  2. See document TRI/13 (Final), May 31, p. 305.
  3. See document TRI/17 (Final), May 19, p. 260.
  4. See document TRI/19 (Final), May 26, appearing as an annex to document TRI/13 (Final), p. 305.
  5. Presumably, Edward H. Litchfield.
  6. The American, British, and French Military Governors subsequently agreed to meet in Frankfurt on June 30 and to confer with the Ministers President the following day.