840.50 Recovery/4–1248: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
1283. For Douglas from Saltzman. Re Depts 1181 to Paris, rptd London as 1270 and Berlin as 634, and your 14901 to Dept: Brit Emb reps called afternoon Apr 10 to discuss presence of Germans at CEEC plenary and making of statement by Robertson at time of signing. Brit supported French desire for statement that signature was subject to international agreements re Germany. Brit were advised that after thorough consideration and with serious misgivings as to effect within Germany US Govt had agreed no Germans should attend plenary. Brit were asked to seek urgently their Govts agreement if possible to having statement made at time of signing that Germans would participate in future functioning of CEEC organization. This might be done in connection with a statement referring to Appendix B CEEC Paris Report2 in which necessary interdependence of Western Germany and Western Europe was stressed.
Re making statement that Military Governors’ signatures were subject to international obligations re Germany, Dept pointed out that all signatories signed subject to existing valid international obligations, that signatures of Military Governors necessarily implied the conditions inherent in their status and that only apparent purpose of stating limitations on signature was to make zones appear as some sort of second-class member and that US could not agree to any such statement. In general discussion Dept reps emphasized that existing critical political and economic situation required that all practicable efforts be made to tie Western Germans into this cooperative effort of Western European community, that while the natural antipathy towards Germans arising out of past wars was understood present situation was so critical particularly in Germany that it should be treated as of over-riding importance, that although unfavorable Communist reactions and demonstrations could be expected in CEEC countries [Page 420] in apparent protest against inclusion of Germans on any basis of apparent equality, the capital which Communists would make in Germany out of overt snubs to Germans presented in Depts opinion greater long-run danger. Same considerations expressed to Berard French Emb Apr 12.
Sent London, repeated to Paris and to Berlin. [Saltzman.]