740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1648
The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Chief of the Division of Central European Affairs (Beam)
Dear Jake: I attach a copy of a letter addressed by General Koenig both to General Robertson and to General Clay.1 You will note that he is critical of the tendency of the Parliamentary Council to go beyond its terms of reference and he objects to the admission of the Berlin representatives as consultants. He also objects to the delegates regarding themselves as representatives of the parties rather than of the Laender, and he believes also that the delegates do not show the proper attitude in regard to federalism.
The letter also contains a reference to the implementation of certain features of the London Agreements, especially the work of the committees which were established as you know by the three Military Governors, and a reference to the so-called harmonization of economic and financial policies in the Western Zones pending Tri-Zonal fusion. Koenig plans to organize what he refers to as an adequately staffed mission, including German experts, to conduct negotiations and continue the work of implementing the London Agreements so that there will be close coordination up to the time that the Tri-Zone is definitely established.
I attended a meeting last Monday at Gen. Koenig’s headquarters in Berlin at which time the contents of this letter were discussed. Robertson was pretty frigid about it and obviously did not like the letter, nor did General Clay. Both felt that General Koenig who was suffering from the gout was bored waiting in Berlin on account of the Moscow negotiations and had nothing better to do so that he took occasion to write the attached letter. However, there was a useful discussion of the subject matter and a clarification of views regarding [Page 424] the work of the Parliamentary Council. Koenig was definitely told, however, that neither Clay nor Robertson was able to establish the committees to implement the London Agreements at Frankfurt, as suggested by General Koenig, because under the circumstances both Robertson and Clay maintain the personnel they use for this purpose at Berlin. Until present circumstances change, if they do, it is not possible to have this personnel both at Frankfurt and Berlin. Therefore, it would be necessary for General Koenig to accommodate his organization to that situation.
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Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩