862.014/8–248: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany ( Murphy ) to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
415. Personal for Douglas. Re London’s 3459 July 30 and Department’s 1346 July 31.1 Confirming our telephone conversation regarding desirability of postponement settlement state boundaries and popular ratification basic constitutional law,2 we feel strongly here that no indication should be given at the present stage either to British or French that our position on question of popular ratification is subject to change. We feel that as question actually will not arise for some time, it would be far better to maintain firm bargaining position. In the interval, German developments would be carefully studied and if possibly 2 months from now there would be reason to review our position, there will be ample time to do so then. Certainly, if there has been any validity in both the British and US positions through the months of the London conference to the effect that popular ratification of the constitutional provision has political value, then there is no need to back away from that position because of mild doubts expressed by a few Germans in the preliminary stage of this operation.
Sent London 415, repeated Department 1909, Paris 422.