740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1649: Telegram

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

secret

2333. (OMGUS–CCF 1220) From Kimmel for Parkman. Joint meeting High Commission–IAR Council held September 15 at Frankfurt—François-Poncet in the chair. Principal matters considered were question of German accession to IAR and relations between High Commission and IAR.

Question of relationships came up at beginning of meeting and after short courteous exchanges to effect that IAR and Commission should and would cooperate fully, proceeded to consider matter of German accession. François-Poncet put this problem in two parts (a) has time come for accession of Germany, and (b) should Germans be represented at Council by an observer or by a voting representative with full powers. Both Commission and Council agreed that Germans should be represented on Council soon as possible by voting representative and not observer. In view of German right under Article 4 of agreement1 to appoint a delegate as soon as government is established, [Page 486] meeting agreed would be better skip this step entirely and bring Germany into full participation at outset. If Germany accedes under Article 31, an instrument of accession [is?] necessary which raised question of whether or not IAR Council should undertake draft. McCloy pointed out that under Article 9c Germany can also accede by other means and suggested that if German Government sent representation to Council meeting with voting powers, this in itself could be considered as accession by occupying powers. François-Poncet agreed this approach might have value because such course would be easier politically for German Government than executing formal instrument.

Meeting decided that members of High Commission and members IAR Council should inform their respective governments that time for German accession has come and that the High Commissioners should ask their governments for authority to act in determining what steps might constitute accession under Article 9c. Meeting agreed if government answers affirmative, another joint meeting should be held to work out best method of dealing with German Government. McCloy has mentioned these questions separately in own cable.2

Robertson returned to question of IAR–High Commission relationships by saying he had certain fears about German accession. Germans now think of IAR as very powerful body and if they join they will soon discover that real powers lodged in other agencies. Therefore Germans likely go other extreme with impression that authority has no important job to do and not bother to work with it except in perfunctory way. Robertson view must avoid situation several different agencies discussing same matters with Germans and he thought it might be advisable to hand over certain High Commission powers to the Council but implied High Commission would have to retain ultimate control for some time to come. De Jean (France) agreed that High Commission should share out some of work and thought Ruhr authority should absorb powers under Articles 18 and 193 of agreement as soon as possible. Vaughan Berry thought present powers of authority somewhat less than were expected and would conceivably continue so for several years. All three High Commissioners finally stated in one way or another that High Commission cannot deprive itself of certain powers, François-Poncet even going so far as to say that France wants no powers taken from coal and steel control groups at this time.

High Commissioners and members of IAR Council expressed view that a solution of problems of IAR–High Commission relationships [Page 487] and exercise of powers by IAR could be worked out especially after it is known what Germans will do re membership. Vaughan Berry suggested setting up small working party to discuss problem at leisure and while idea generally agreed to by Council members and High Commissioners, no exact terms of reference determined. Robertson thought that working party might consider such matters as allocation of work and structural changes which might be made at later date. François-Poncet thought working party should be a kind of standing committee which would deal with problems ad hoc as they arise. McCloy thought working party good idea, but ended session with remark that working party should not deal with matter of transfer of powers at all. No decision on who will take initiative setting up working party, but representation from High Commission probably will be selected from coal and steel groups through economic advisers, and also Military Security Board.

Sent Department 2333; repeated London 179.

Riddleberger
  1. For the text of the Agreement for the Establishment of an International Authority for the Ruhr, signed at London on April 28, 1949, see 3 UST 5212; for the draft text, see Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. ii, p. 581.
  2. Under reference here is telegram CCF 1245, September 16, from Frankfurt, not printed. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1649)
  3. Articles 18 and 19 dealt with the transfer of powers from the IAR or their continuation after the control period.