Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Council of Foreign Ministers; Germany and Austria, Volume III

862.011/4–2149: Telegram

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

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Berlin, April 21, 1949—5 p.m.

570. Personal for Murphy. We sent last night by telecon to Army Department the text of the SPD resolution on the constitution.¹ While this was being transmitted, Schumacher was broadcasting a statement which is being reported separately² but which confirms the intran-sigeance of the SPD resolution. Our initial reaction to these SPD developments was that Schumacher is determined to confront the Western Allies with an ultimatum. Careful reading of the text, however, does leave open the possibility that the SPD will negotiate further at Bonn, now that it has established publicly its independence of the occupying powers.

Certain political maneuvering must be taken into account in assessing the SPD resolution. What Schumacher is stating both directly and by implication is that of the three large political parties, the SPD stands most clearly for German ideas and rights. The SED is obviously Soviet-controlled and by the terms of the SPD resolution, the CDU is closely identified with the ideas of the Western powers. Whatever the outcome at Bonn, this reasoning leaves the SPD as the independent champion of German ideas which Schumacher obviously desires as a political platform for his party. The SPD position on the constitution must, therefore, be interpreted in this light.

Apart from the deplorable attack on the occupation powers, a careful reading of the SPD resolution does not in my opinion exclude further negotiations. The exact limits of the SPD demands will probably become apparent only in the next few days when the inter-party negotiations are resumed. The sub-committee of the main committee will probably meet tomorrow, at which time more specific information should become available respecting both the specific demands of the SPD and the position of the CDU, which is not to date determined. The public identification of the CDU with the Western powers may result in such resentment that the CDU will assume a more adamant position in the face of possible concessions by the SPD. We do not know enough yet about internal German reactions to the SPD resolution to assess this possible development.

As to tactics in dealing with this SPD attack, the British are still pressing for immediate presentation of the Foreign Minister’s message.³ Clay will probably be willing to convey the message after the sub-committee meets and if Koenig does not object. Both Clay and I are fearful that if the message is paraded as a major triumph for the SPD, that we will wind up with the CDU in opposition and hence little better off than we are now. This is a most ticklish situation here and is by no means solely a question of making certain minor concessions to the SPD in the belief that this would automatically lead to agreement on the constitution.

We hope to have this afternoon the so-called short text of the basic law.⁴ However, I have just learned that Carlo Schmid is still working on it in an endeavor to make it even shorter. Consequently, we are not certain that the text we have represents the authentic SPD version. Hope to send more on this later.

Sent Department 570, repeated Paris 208, London 221, Frankfurt 28. Personal for the Ambassadors.

Riddleberger

1. The telecon message has not been found in Department of State files: for the text of the SPD’s Hannover resolution, see Documents on the German Federal Constitution, p. 134.
2. Apparently a reference to telegram 572, April 21, from Berlin, not printed (862.011/4–2149) which reported the Berlin press coverage of Schumacher’s remarks and quoted extracts from them.
3. Ante, p. 186.
4. Under reference here is an abbreviated version of the Basic Law prepared April 9, in Hannover and subsequently amended in Bonn April 21. For the texts of the amended draft and two memoranda by the SPD pointing out the differences between its draft and the Basic Law adopted by the Main Committee of the Parliamentary Council, see Documents on the German Federal Constitution. pp. 118–134.