740.00119 Control (Germany)/4–2749: Telegram
The Acting United States Political Adviser for Germany (Riddleberger) to the Secretary of State
urgent
605. From Murphy. Your 472, April 26.1 Concur fully in suggestion that statement to Germans that we would consider any modification of basic law necessary to facilitate four-power agreement on all of Germany should not be transmitted until after announcement of a CFM and until basic law is formally submitted for approval.
It should be remembered that basic law will undoubtedly include provisions re accession of East Germany when circumstances permit. I am certain that there will be little or no difficulty on part of Germans in event of four-power agreement on all of Germany because of desire of vast majority to see a united Germany. It would be untimely to raise this issue at the moment at Bonn but it might be well to discuss it further with Schuman with a view to ascertaining his current views in light of developments of past few days.2
- Not printed; it reported that the French were again pressing for a communication to the Germans, informing them that the three Western powers would consider any modifications of the Basic Law necessary to facilitate four-power agreement on Germany. The Department of State believed that such a statement should not be transmitted before the announcement of a Council of Foreign Ministers and until the Basic Law had been submitted for approval, and requested Murphy’s views on the question. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/4–2649)↩
- Murphy was probably referring to the press releases in Moscow and Washington relating to the Jessup–Malik conversations on Berlin. Regarding these releases, see p. 731.↩