740.00119 Council/6–1448: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

top secret   us urgent

2229. For Douglas Eyes Only. Would appreciate your comments on following State–Army message sent to Clay in reply to message from him along lines Berlin’s 13481 to Dept, repeated to you:2

[Page 377]

“Your CC 4650.3 Have held discussions with State Dept and following are our joint comments on procedures proposed by you and Robertson in case French failure to ratify London Agreement:

1.
Subject to following considerations we agree with your proposal. It is, however, difficult to foretell what form French action may take and particularly whether approval will be given with reservations which might or might not be acceptable. In general we feel it very important to have French go along with us and therefore will want to evaluate the significance of their reservations if any. We will therefore wish in any case to take another look at situation promptly after French action, and will communicate with you immediately.
2.
We assume your proposal ‘to instruct the Ministers President to arrange for the drawing up of a Constitution’ is intended to follow the London Agreement under which the Ministers President would be authorized, rather than specifically directed, to arrange for a Constitutional Assembly, etc.
3.
No objection here to transforming the present Economic Council into an Interim Semi-Provisional Govt again on the assumption that the Germans themselves initiate or support this transformation.
4.
Our suggestion essentially is that in working out both the Constitution and the Interim Govt, Germans should to greatest extent possible take initiative in plans for assuming governmental responsibilities, in particular whether new elections are necessary, their form and timing. We all feel sure you have this fully in mind and that your proposals are intended to move rapidly ahead on a Bizonal basis, if necessary, to give the Germans increased governmental responsibilities but along lines and in accordance with procedures which they are ready to assume and carry out. We make this point particularly with respect to the transformation of the Economic Council in view unfavorable reaction in Germany to the Economic Council in the past, and also in view of the somewhat unfavorable reaction in Germany to the London Conference proposals.
5.
So far as possible in working out Constitutional arrangements it would seem desirable to follow the London Conference procedure so that it will be easier for French to adhere to our Bizonal program if [Page 378] and when they are ready to join. Irrespective of outcome of French debate, all here still feel strongly that common policy in western Germany should be our persistent aim.
6.
As you know, we are not committed on the Ruhr recommendations and the Ruhr authority unless the French accept the program as a whole. Therefore, this problem should be left in suspense if the French reject the London recommendation.
7.
Would appreciate your further comment after discussion of above with Robertson. State is sending this cable to Douglas for info and comment, and requests that copy be made available to Murphy.”

Sent London as 2229; repeated Berlin for Murphy (Eyes Only) as 1036.

Marshall
  1. Not printed; it reported that Generals Clay and Robertson and their political advisers met on June 9 to discuss possible measures for the development of German political organizations in the United States and British zones of occupation in the event that France failed to approve the recommendations of the London Conference on Germany. General Clay proposed that the U.S. and British Military Governors would direct the German Ministers President in their zones to have drawn up constitutions under the terms of the London Conference recommendations. In order to speed up the establishment of a provisional German government in the Bizone area, the Economic Council would be replaced by a Council of members elected by each Land. Upon election the new Council would assume provisional governmental responsibilities until the new Constitution came into effect. German officials would be informed of the powers to be retained by the Military Government in a subsequent formal occupation statute. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–1048)
  2. In his telegram 2658, June 16, from London, not printed, Ambassador Douglas concurred in the program reported upon in telegram 1348 from Berlin (see previous footnote) and in the Department’s reply set forth here. Douglas added that the German program so far dealt only with the political organization of the Bizone area but did not deal with the establishment of an International Authority for the Ruhr or with security measures regarding Germany. Douglas considered it particularly important to reach an understanding with the British regarding security along the lines set forth in the London Conference recommendations even without France as a party. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–1648)
  3. Not printed.