740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1248:
Telegram
The Secretary of State to
the Embassy in the Soviet Union
1
top secret us urgent
niact
Washington, September
12, 1948—9 p. m.
1101. Following is text of aide-mémoire which in
accordance with our instructions sent you in separate telegram,2 you are requested to present, together with your
British and French colleagues, to Stalin and Molotov:
- “1. The Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the
United States having received and studied reports from their
Military Governors of the discussions in Berlin find it
necessary to draw the attention of the Soviet Government to
the fact that the position adopted by the Soviet Military
Governor during the meetings in Berlin on a number of points
deviate from the principles agreed at Moscow between the
four Governments and contained in the agreed directive to
the four Military Governors. As the Soviet Government
[Page 1153]
is aware, the
terms of this directive were finally agreed after long and
careful consideration, and after clarifications as to
interpretation had been received from the Soviet
Government.
- 2. The specific issues on which in the opinion of the
Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the United
States, the Soviet Military Governor has departed from the
understandings reached at Moscow relate to: (1) restrictions
on communications, transport and commerce between Berlin and
the western zones; (2) the authority and functions of the
financial commission, and in particular its relation to the
German bank of emission; and (3) the control of the trade of
Berlin.
- 3. As to the first, the Soviet Military Governor has
presented a proposal which falls outside the agreed
principle that the restrictions which have recently been
imposed on communications, transport and commerce be lifted.
He has proposed that restrictions upon air traffic, not
heretofore existing, should now be imposed, and in
particular that air traffic to Berlin should be strictly
limited to that necessary to meet the needs of the military
forces of occupation.
- 4. As the Soviet Government is aware, the directive makes
no mention of air transport and this question was not
discussed at Moscow. The directive reads: ‘Restrictions on
communications, transport and commerce between Berlin and
the western zones and to and from the Soviet zone of Germany
which have recently been imposed shall be lifted.’ There
have been and are no such restrictions on air traffic. The
purpose of the directive is to lift restrictions and not to
impose new ones. The proposal of the Soviet
Commander-in-Chief, therefore, falls outside the scope of
the present discussions and is unacceptable.
- 5. Secondly, on the question of the authority and
functions of the financial commission there should be not
the slightest grounds for any misunderstanding. At the
meeting on August 23 attended by Premier Stalin and Mr. Molotov and the
representatives of the Governments of France, the United
Kingdom and the United States, the intention of the
directive in regard to the powers of the financial
commission including its power to control the operations in
Berlin of the German bank of emission was clearly and
specifically confirmed by Premier Stalin. The Soviet
Military Governor has refused to accept both the meaning of
the directive and the clear understanding of the Four Powers
reached at Moscow.
- 6. Thirdly, there is the question of the control of the
trade of Berlin. The position of the Soviet Military
Governor during the discussions in Berlin in regard to
matters relating to the control of trade between Berlin and
the western zones of Germany amounts to a claim for
exclusive Soviet authority over such matters. Such a claim
is a contradiction
[Page 1154]
of the spirit and meaning of the directive to the four
Military Governors to which the four Governments gave their
approval and is therefore unacceptable.
- 7. In bringing these major points of difference to the
notice of the Soviet Government, the Governments of United
States, the United Kingdom and France do not wish to imply
that these are the only points of difference which have
arisen during the conversations in Berlin.
- 8. The Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the
United States have understood clearly the principles agreed
to in Moscow and the assurances given by Premier Stalin. Their Military
Governors in Berlin have acted in accordance with these
principles and assurances. The position taken by the Soviet
Military Governor, on the contrary, has constituted a
departure from what was agreed in Moscow and strikes at the
very foundation upon which these discussions were
undertaken. The divergencies which have accordingly arisen
on these questions are so serious that the Governments of
France, the United Kingdom and the United States feel
compelled to inquire whether the Soviet Government is
prepared to affirm the understandings outlined herein and to
issue the necessary instructions to the Soviet Military
Governor, confirming the agreed intention of the directive
in regard to
- (a)
- the lifting of all restrictions on communications,
transport and commerce imposed after March 30, 1948,
without imposition of any new air or other
restrictions; and
- (b)
- the control by the financial commission of the
financial arrangements contemplated in the agreed
directive, including control of the operations of
the Bank of Emission With respect to Berlin as
specifically confirmed by Premier Stalin; and
- (c)
- a satisfactory basis for trade between Berlin and
third countries and the western zones of Germany in
accordance with an agreement to be reached between
the four Military Governors which does not involve
the unilateral control of such trade by the Soviet
Trade Administration and which recognizes the rights
of the occupying powers to import in fulfillment of
their responsibilities, and to control the proceeds
from, food and fuel for the use of the Berlin
population and industry.
- 9. The Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the
United States believe that only if the steps proposed in the
aide-mémoire are taken would it
be possible for the Military Governors to continue their
discussions.”
Above is agreed text of aide-mémoire but we feel
meaning might be clearer if concluding portion of point (c) read as follows: “and which recognizes the
right of each of the occupying power’s to import in fulfillment of their
respective responsibilities, and to control the proceeds from, food and
fuel imported for the use of the Berlin population
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and industry”. If your British and
French colleagues agree we would like to have this change made.3
