740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–1648: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
4679. Following received by Army from Clay Dec 12:
“We do not believe German acceptance of Ruhr Authority likely or possible at this time. There is no German Government with any authority from the people. Moreover, to require such acceptance from the German Government to be formed in the spring might result either in refusal, which would prevent its recognition, or acceptance by that new government might destroy it. We believe that the Ruhr Authority must be imposed except and unless incorporated in a peace treaty, and even that treaty may be imposed. However, we believe that until Military Government has passed right to vote to new German Government under an imposed Ruhr Authority, the German votes should be cast by occupying powers, and where financial and economic considerations pertaining to the Trizonal area are involved, vote would be cast under the terms of the Fusion Agreement.”
Dept regards language numbered Para 2, ToRuhr 26,1 as consistent with Clay view that Ruhr Authority will have to be imposed. [Page 569] It was because of recognition of view expressed by Clay that para includes “by accession or otherwise”.
Present formulation understood to represent concession to views other delegations that Germany should not be given right to cast its own vote until it has either voluntarily or involuntarily assumed the responsibility of carrying out IAR decisions.
Berlin pls pass to Clay.
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Telegram 4624, ToRuhr 26, December 10, to London, not printed. Paragraph 2 of that telegram read as follows:
↩“That it now be agreed that the Occupying Powers will not decide that the German Government should cast (the German votes until the German Govt has assumed a positive commitment by accession or otherwise.” (740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–1048)