740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1248: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
niact
1100. Transmitted herewith are your instructions for next approach in Moscow regarding Berlin situation.
- 1.
- You are requested to seek immediately, together with your British and French colleagues, an interview with Stalin and Molotov and to present to the latter the agreed aide-mémoire (text sent in separate telegram1).
- 1. [2]
- In presenting the aide-mémoire you should mention to Stalin and Molotov that if the Soviet Government agrees to send fresh instructions to the Soviet Military Commanders which will make it possible for the discussions in Berlin to continue, we insist that the four Military Governors must report back to their Governments within four days after they are authorized to resume discussions in Berlin. Such discussions would be renewed as soon as possible after notification to you that the conditions laid down in the aide-mémoire have been accepted by the Soviet Government.
- 3.
- In the event that Stalin and Molotov, after having read the aide-mémoire, refuse to consider sending instructions to the Soviet Military Commander clarifying and confirming the understanding on the basic points of the directive, or give an evasive answer amounting to rejection, you should then inform them that you are obliged to report their views to your Government and you should thereupon terminate the interview.
- 4.
- Should Stalin and Molotov request time to consider the aide-mémoire, you should agree and express the hope that a reply can be received as soon as possible. We consider a written reply is preferable because in the event of Soviet acceptance, such acceptance in writing would avoid any misinterpretation in Berlin. However, we would not insist if British and French do not concur.
- 5.
- If Stalin and Molotov agree to accept the terms
of the aide-mémoire and to send new
instructions to the Soviet Military Commander,
[Page 1152]
you should make the oral statement
given below before taking leave of them. This statement should only
be made if agreement is reached, since in the contrary event we
desire that no reference be made in Moscow to the specified
developments in Berlin which will be reserved for treatment in our
subsequent note to the Sov Govt. We have carefully considered your
Niact 1950 but still believe
our suggested procedure is the best one to follow.
“It is obvious that the successful implementation of any agreement reached as a result of the discussions regarding Berlin will depend upon the maintenance of conditions in which the legitimate administrative machinery of that city is able to function. The US Govt therefore assumes that the Military Governors responsible for the administration of Berlin will take all measures necessary to maintain such conditions.”
- 6.
- You should avoid discussion of technical details and confine yourself simply to ascertaining whether or not the Soviets are willing to give satisfaction on the three basic issues which we insist must be settled before the discussions can be taken up again at Berlin. In the present Moscow interview you should likewise avoid any further discussion of the question of the London decisions on Germany.
Code Room: Send to Moscow. Repeat to London as 3608; Paris as 3576; Berlin as 1612.
- Telegram 1101, September 12, to Moscow, infra.↩