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

740.00119 Control (Germany)/10–1748

Record Prepared by the United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) of a Meeting of the Military Governors of the Western Zones of Occupation of Germany, Frankfurt, October 16, 1948¹

[Extract]

secret

[Undated.]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17. There followed a lengthy discussion regarding Laender boundaries with General Noiret pointing out that the French believed in only one of two possible solutions regarding Wuerttemberg–Baden: (1) Consolidation of the two entire states, or (2) the establishment of two separate states with their former boundaries. General Clay pointed out that this would seem logical but that we had not contemplated imposing conditions on the Germans except that under the text of the London Agreements they were to adhere as much as possible to traditional patterns. The French referred again to their desire to refer this question back to the Ministers President requesting them to review their recommendations without the two veto restrictions regarding North Rhine Westphalia and Bavaria which are specified in Annex G of the London Agreements.

18. General Robertson said that while he had been willing to go along with this French proposal he now objected to it because he had discovered that Ambassador Massigli in London had approached the British Government on the same question and he felt that now he could do no more than refer the question back to his government. General Robertson also said that in 1947 he had rearranged certain Laender boundaries in the British Zone abolishing certain small states such as Oldenburg, Schaumburg–Lippe and Lippe–Detmold. He had given an assurance of a referendum after five years to see whether Lippe–Detmold would wish to be attached to lower Saxony or North Rhine Westphalia. Territory now forms part of North Rhine Westphalia. Military Governors agreed that Robertson’s promise should be honored.

19. General Robertson referred to a thought which he had in mind as to whether our governments have considered the question what form, if any, of declaration should be issued at the time of an establishment of a Western German government regarding the termination of hostilities such as in the case of Austria. This had nothing to do with the question of a peace treaty. (I think this question should be taken up with the Department of State.)

20. General Noiret then exposed [expressed?] the French apprehension regarding the trend in the Parliamentary Council at Bonn toward centralization of finance and police powers. General Robertson pointed out that Annex H 1(d) of the London Agreements² specifies the limitations which the Germans must observe and he saw no cause for alarm. Mr. Litchfield pointed out that the conversations on this subject at Bonn thus far had occurred only on subcommittee level and he saw no cause for alarm. Generals Clay and Robertson also pointed out that the provision of paragraph 1c, Annex H, requests the Military Governors to decide in detail what powers the federal government should have as regards police. It was agreed that work on this subject should be undertaken as soon as possible.

Robert Murphy

1. The source text was sent to the Department of State as an enclosure to a brief transmittal letter of October 17 from Ambassador Murphy to Assistant Secretary of State Saltzman, not printed.

   The source text does not contain a list of participants, but the record indicates that the discussion was carried between Generals Clay, Robertson, and Noiret (substituting for General Koenig). Also present for the United States were Ambassador Murphy and OMGUS Finance Adviser Jack Bennett.

   For another portion of this record dealing with the problem of trizonal fusion, see p. 676. Other topics dealt with at this meeting included the draft occupation statute, foreign investment policy, and the Berlin currency question. For documentation on these matters, see pp. 597 ff: and 698 ff., and the index entry “Berlin Blockade: Currency for Berlin”.

2. The reference here is to document TRI/15 (Final), May 12, p. 240, which was included as Annex H to the Report of the London Conference on Germany, June 1, p. 309.