740.00119 Council/11–1149: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the President and the Acting Secretary of State
4716. For President and Webb from Secretary.
At opening meeting November 101 Schuman announced impossibility of meeting of French Cabinet on dismantling question until six that afternoon. We, therefore, agreed to hold meeting night November 10 on the dismantling issue to take into account French Cabinet position.2 Discussions on all other German issues on our agenda discussed with very satisfactory results.
We agreed on desirability of an early accession of Germany to international authority for Ruhr and to obtaining some form of declaration from German Government for recognition of purposes of, and cooperation with, Military Security Board. It was also agreed that cooperation by German Government in matters of common concern to Western Powers should likewise be obtained as part of general settlement as far as practicable. It is expected that HICOM will attempt within general framework of results of this meeting to obtain early action by German Government on these matters.
We also agreed that Germany may establish consular service and commercial attachés in countries in which they would be received.
There was general understanding that economic mission could be accredited to other governments where this appeared desirable. To administer these services it was agreed that Germany could establish consular-commercial bureau. There was general understanding that Germans should be discouraged from setting up anything in nature of Foreign Office at this time.
It was agreed that problem of possible termination of state of war with Germany required very careful consideration within our respective governments before any profitable joint consideration could be made. We agreed to exchange information on this subject in January, preparatory to meeting of special legal committee to consider question.
It was agreed we should discourage other nations taking steps which would lead to either de facto or de jure recognition of the Eastern German regime, but relations of technical nature between West and East Germany which would facilitate travel, trade, et cetera, should [Page 306] not be discouraged. It was recognized that neighboring countries will have great difficulties in handling trade matters with Eastern regime in context of our joint approach. These matters may be discussed from time to time within permanent commission of Brussels pact countries. I agreed that on such occasions it might be desirable for Douglas to join their meetings.3
I had intended to talk privately to Bevin and Schuman on the subject of European integration and to address myself in open meeting only to aspects of problem as it affects sound and long range solution to German problem. Bevin, however, speaking with considerable feeling, expressed at great length his concern at increased pressure for their association with continent to an extent which would force England from its Commonwealth position. I gave only partial reply at regular meeting as I expect to speak privately to Bevin Friday on this subject.
[Here follows a report on the discussion of the Yugoslav and Chinese questions; that part relating to Yugoslavia is printed in Volume V.]
By our invitation Foreign Ministers of three Benelux countries met with us late this afternoon. They were informed of, and expressed agreement with, our general conclusions on various items as regards Germany. They expressed strong appreciation of their having been taken into confidence.
Sent Department 4716, repeated London 813, Frankfort 130.
- Secretary Acheson was in Paris attending a meeting of the Western Foreign Ministers to discuss various aspects of the German question. The minutes of this first session are in CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 144:3 Min Talks. For another account of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers, see Acheson, Present at the Creation, pp. 337–340.↩
- For documentation on the Foreign Ministers’ discussion of dismantling, see pp. 632 ff.↩
- For further documentation on the United States attitude toward the “German Democratic Republic,” see pp. 505 ff.↩