740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–2748: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
niact
1034.1 For the Ambassador Eyes Only. We have just been informed by telecon2 that British and French are sending instructions to Roberts and Chataigneau to accept communiqué and directive as transmitted your 1776.3
You are authorized to inform Molotov that we can accept the communiqué and directive without insisting upon the addition of “eventual” in para D. We are however not thoroughly satisfied with the relationship of the last para to the one which immediately precedes it. You should seek clarification on the point that the “financial arrangements” to be controlled by the financial commission definitely include regulation of currency circulation in Berlin by the German Bank of Emission. This would be done either by a change in language of para E or by an agreed minute confirming Stalin’s definite statements in this respect. As stated in urtel 17814 it is important that this should be clearly understood by conferees in Berlin.
In accepting the language of the communiqué and directive you should make it clear that if the Soviets wish an agreed statement regarding Western Germany we must insist that this contain a clear statement of our position as proposed in our 10085 and that we cannot agree as Molotov suggested last night to omit the last part of this statement since as you point out this would leave doubt as to our intentions. The agreed statement on Western Germany would be made and published when the final communiqué is announced after the Military Governors have made their report.
As indicated in our messages 1006,6 10227 and 10334 we must insist in any event upon a written statement of our position approximately that “The arrangements agreed to by the Western Powers for lifting the restrictions on communications with Berlin and dealing with the currency question in Berlin are without prejudice to their rights, duties, and obligations as occupying powers in Berlin”.
It is our understanding that the three Western representatives would make identic written communications on this subject to be made public [Page 1092] at the time of final agreement but you should make our intention on this subject entirely clear to Molotov before any directive goes to Berlin. Notification of intention could be done either orally or in the form of an aide-mémoire as you suggest.
We understand that Roberts has been directed to call to the attention of the Soviets that the disturbances in Berlin8 are not conducive to the development of an atmosphere in which the Military Governors may arrive at an agreement and to urge that steps now be taken among the four Military Governors to restore law and order. You are requested to support Roberts’ declaration on this subject.
As to the interim communiqué we feel it is important that it follow the lines of the proposal you made to Stalin and to which he specifically agreed (see urtel 17319).
Bevin has just suggested new text to read “It was decided to refer certain technical questions in the course of the present conversations in Moscow to the four Military Governors in Berlin. Meanwhile, the conversations in Moscow have not yet been concluded”. This seems to us a good formula and hope it can be accepted. We cannot agree to Molotov’s suggestion that the interim communiqué give any information concerning substance of agreement since this would give Soviet propaganda great advantages and possibly indicate that final agreement had been reached and was not dependent on the results of the talks in Berlin.
When interim communiqué is agreed our preference would be for release at 10 AM, EST. Please flash us text when agreed.
- Repeated to London as 3434, Paris as 3360, and Berlin as 1545.↩
- Not printed; a transcript of the telecon is in file 740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–3048.↩
- Ante, p. 1085.↩
- Not printed.↩
- August 24, p. 1077.↩
- August 24, p. 1072.↩
- August 26, p. 1083.↩
- Not printed.↩
- The reference here is to demonstrations, led by the SED, August 27 at the city hall in Berlin which forced the city assembly to postpone its meeting. The text of Bevin’s instructions to Roberts on the disturbances in Berlin and concerning the draft directive and communiqué are in telegram 3899, August 28, from London, not printed. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–2848)↩
- Not printed.↩