740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–449: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting United States Political Adviser for Germany (Riddleberger), at Berlin
873.1 Department agrees with interpretation contained urtel 1226 August 42 and believes SMA will undoubtedly exploit every possibility [Page 526] offered by present talks for dragging West German leaders into high-level consultations or some kind of “national” organization. There is no pressure on West Germans under terms of Paris communiqué3 to go beyond exploratory talks of present character and level. Communiqué merely committed us to quadripartite consultations in which respective occupation authorities “may call upon” German experts and organizations for assistance. There is no mention of establishment of new German organizations and Germans who may participate in exchanges of views at our request are free to make recommendations but only such recommendations as they themselves wish to agree upon.
It might strengthen the resistance of West German leaders to present Soviet tactics to point out to them the limited extent of our commitment at Paris and to indicate that we view the current Soviet maneuvers as being largely political. We consider therefore that any elaborate high-level talks or any proposals for national economic commission would only serve current Soviet propaganda purposes, as well as the continuing long-time Soviet aim of achieving political control of all of Germany. Department believes adequate economic results could be achieved without these things if Soviet intentions are at all serious.