740.00119 Control (Germany)/4–2249: Telegram
The Acting Director of the Office of German and Austrian Affairs (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
594. Personal for Secretary and Undersecretary. On arrival I have had satisfactory conversation with General Clay, and together with Riddleberger, succeeded I believe in correcting certain misapprehension regarding policy and Department’s intentions on the subject of conduct of negotiations with Germans re basic law. I find Clay in much better mood and he will, I believe, participate as Military Governor in Monday’s meeting with Germans scheduled at Frankfurt 1630 hours. Please inform Bradley and Voorhees that I see no reason for immediate concern over Clay’s condition. Physically he looks well and he seemed cheerful at end of today’s talk. He has strong convictions on constitutional question just as he does on tactical wisdom of conveying Foreign Ministers’ views under the circumstances and at the time it was done. He feels these views may be interpreted as a departure from London and has had doubts whether Department stood firmly on principle of federalism. I told him our position unchanged. He now understands more clearly Secretary’s position and, I believe, he is basically eager to continue with these negotiations in the hope [Page 252] that notwithstanding difficulties of German attitude, agreement may be eventually achieved. I have of course urged him to do so stating that it is Secretary’s and President’s wish to lend him every support.
We plan to proceed Frankfurt early tomorrow for meeting of Military Governors prior to meeting with Germans. It will probably not be possible here to exchange views today with British and French as key representatives are in the zones.
Schuman’s interview re CFM as reported in press has caused some consternation as has Washington AP story attributing to Department officials statement that Foreign Ministers’ views on basic law intended as a “concession” to Social Democrats. Clay is deeply concerned that Schumacher is becoming dangerous demagog determined on a centralized government with strong appeal to German nationalists.