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

740.00119 EW/9–1348: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

secret

Baden Baden, September 13, 1948—3 p. m.

77. Would appreciate receiving confirmation my understanding is correct that proposed review by ECA of reparations program will not extend to plants released by technical mission dismantling of which has already been ordered by French authorities (see mytel 75, September 4¹).

I have been questioned on this point by French officials who tell me position, vis-à-vis Germans, of General Koenig, Governor Widmer and other French occupation authorities would become untenable if they were compelled to revoke dismantling orders already given. Regardless of what ECA’s final decision might be, revocation or suspension of orders would be regarded by the Germans as having been brought about by themselves through such actions as resignation of Württemburg and Baden cabinets and would encourage further acts of resistance to the occupying powers.² I fully share these apprehensions although French occupation authorities deplore further delay another review of the reparations program would entail, they appreciate ECA’s reasons for wishing to do so and do not oppose review by ECA of plants not released by technical mission. (However, they do not seem to realize that ECA proposes to send another survey team to Germany for the purpose.) Furthermore, I am reasonably certain they would be willing to accept ECA recommendations to retain in Germany a substantial number of plants. Of course, the authorities in Paris, whose views would prevail over those of the occupation authorities, might be less willing to accept such recommendations.

Sent Department 77; repeated Berlin 58, Frankfurt 12, Paris 23.

Murphy

1. Not printed.
2. On August 6 the Land Government of Württemberg-Hohenzollern resigned in protest against orders given by French occupation authorities for the dismantlement of a number of industrial plants scheduled for reparations. On August 26 the Land Government of Baden also resigned in a similar protest. On August 31, following a meeting at Rüdesheim, the eleven Ministers President of the Western Zones of Occupation of Germany issued a communiqué calling for a review of the dismantling program in the light of Marshall Plan requirements to be undertaken with the assistance of German experts.