Office of the Historian

862.00/11–2349: Telegram

The United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority
Bonn, November 23, 1949—noon.

46. Following is brief statement of discussion between High Commissioners and Chancellor Adenauer held on 22 November, 1919 at Bonn–Petersberg. Protocol of agreements reached was forwarded 22 November to Department as Bonn’s 45, repeated Frankfort 46.1

1.
Before discussing a draft “protocol of agreements”2 prepared by the political advisers, Robertson reviewed briefly following subjects:
a.
Participation in international organizations Robertson requested Adenauer to nominate some one to discuss with representatives of HICOM certain constitutional and other questions involved in Germany’s participation in international organizations. He stated, however, that each case would be decided on its merits.
b.
Termination of state of war. Adenauer stated that he has set up a committee to study individual problems resulting from the “existing state of war” without attempting to deal with entire problem. He stated that this report would be submitted to HICOM when completed. Later in meeting it was agreed to include present text in paragraph IX of final “protocol of agreements” referred to above.
c.
Shipbuilding. Adenauer was given copy of HICOM statement on shipbuilding (forwarded Department in Bonn’s 45) plus a copy of Article XI of Washington agreement. Adenauer replied German shipping interests were complaining of unemployment and desired to know if foreign vessels could be constructed or repaired in German yards. Robertson pointed out that construction of ships for export beyond limits prescribed is a matter which is now under consideration. Adenauer implied that limits in shipbuilding prescribed in HICOM paper given him may be so strict as to make the document meaningless. Robertson replied that service speed of twelve knots would place ships in competitive position. Later in meeting agreement was reached on present paragraph VII of “Protocol of agreements” reached.
d.
Attitude to be adopted by Western governments respect to German democratic republic. On a confidential basis, Robertson informed Adenauer that Foreign Ministers agreed that governments of Western world should adopt a common attitude toward German democratic republic, i.e., all action should be avoided which involves recommendation [recognition?], express or implied, de facto or de jure, of German democratic republic. Adenauer assured council that FedRep would conform in every respect. Robertson in reply to a query of Adenauer, indicated that this decision did not mean that trade agreements, railroad and post negotiations, et cetera, could not be continued and in fact should not be renewed at such time as they lapse. Adenauer repeated he did not wish to take action which might be interpreted by the Germans in the East Zone that they were being abandoned.
2.
Comments with respect to “protocol of agreements reached,” referred to above.
a.
It was agreed that subject protocol would be made public at 5 p. m. on Thursday 24 November in order that it could be synchronized with Schuman’s statement and Adenauer’s statement declaration in the Bundestag same date.
b.
Adenauer laid great stress on receiving German public support for subject protocol.
c.
Adenauer questioned concept of German membership under Article 33 [31] of Ruhr Statute.3 It was agreed not to refer to German “full membership” in IAR. My talks previous evening with Schumacher convinced me that Adenauer would have trouble in obtaining agreement to German accession to IAR and we worded Article II of protocol in order to help strengthen his case. It was agreed that Adenauer could make statement in Bundestag with respect to the question of review of the Ruhr Statute in the light of conditions existing at the time of such review particularly with respect to occupation statute.4
d.
Adenauer requested that equipment for the production of synthetic ammonia and menthanol used in production of synthetic fertilizer at I. G. Farben plant at Ludwigshaven (see paragraph VIII paragraph C of protocol) should not be dismantled and cited statistics [Page 350] to support his case. Poncet cited figures which were in partial contradiction to Adenauer’s figures stating that they were based on ECA studies. At one point Poncet threatened to remove this plant from list of plants to be removed from reparations list but later in private negotiations agreed to its inclusion in protocol.
e.
Poncet assured Adenauer that equipment in the process of being dismantled at Borsig would not be removed. (See paragraph VIII (D) of protocol.) It was agreed that general ruling with respect to dismantling equipment would not apply to Berlin.
f.
Adenauer agreed to give confidential note to HICOM giving his assurance that rest of dismantling program would be carried out smoothly. It was agreed not to include such a statement in protocol. High Commissioners and Adenauer will call attention to Adenauer’s assurances in press conferences.
g.
Adenauer laid great stress on a concluding statement which referred to preamble and which re-emphasized need for integrating Western Germany into community of nations of Western Europe. Adenauer stated that he wanted protocol to represent to the German people a final attitude of the FedRep with respect to integration of Germany into Western Europe as opposed to Eastern Europe. Article X of protocol represents my compromise proposal.
h.
It was agreed that Adenauer although making public protocol at five o’clock in the Bundestag on Thursday would not hold a press conference until Friday afternoon. Council agreed to hold a press conference at 11 a. m. on Friday prior to regular meeting of Council scheduled that day.
i.
Translations of French and German text of protocol as forwarded in Bonn’s 45 to Department will be agreed upon and circulated for signature on 23 November.
j.
In reply to a query of Adenauer, Robertson stated that Adenauer could announce to Bundestag on the twenty-fourth “that orders are now going out in UK zone to stop dismantling in the plants listed in protocol.”
3.
Adenauer stated that with approach of Christmas he would like to renew a plea for return of German prisoners of war from abroad; that Germans held for trial in foreign countries be tried quickly, and that the several thousand German soldiers in Belgium, France and Italy who have not yet been tried or sentenced be dealt with at once. Council agreed to discuss this subject at its meeting on Friday 25 Nov.
4.
Except for acrimonious discussion between Adenauer and Poncet with respect to I. G. Farben plant at Ludwigshaven, meeting of Council with Adenauer was carried on in a very harmonious atmosphere. Adenauer appeared to be most pleased with protocol and in fact pressed for its signature at this meeting. He appears confident that he will gain support of Bundestag on 24th.

Sent Department, repeated Frankfort 47.

McCloy
  1. Supra.↩
  2. This draft has not been found in Department of State files.↩
  3. For the text of the agreement for the establishment of the International Authority for the Ruhr, see Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. ii, pp. 581 ff.↩
  4. For the text of the Allied Occupation Statute for Germany, agreed by the Foreign Ministers at their meetings in Washington, April 6–8, see p. 179.↩