740.00119 Control (Germany)/3–249: Telegram

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

top secret

180. Personal for Saltzman and Hickerson. Paris 840.1 At end of yesterday’s military governors meeting on West German constitution2 Clay announced his authorization to accept Plan X on March 10 indicating that according to his instructions from Army, acceptance is conditional on effective date of March 10. Koenig said that while he also was authorized to accept Plan X French Government preferred period from March 20 to 27 as effective date and conditional acceptance based on March 10 was new to him. He would consult Paris. Robertson replied to similar effect indicating March 10 or 20 would be acceptable.

Clay has been fully informed of Department’s several telegrams on this subject. He states Army has made March 10 date a conditional [condition?] precedent to acceptance.3

Sent Department, repeated London 22, Paris.

Murphy
  1. Not printed.
  2. For documentation on the drafting of the West German constitution (Basic Law), see p. 187.
  3. Telegram 681 (251 to Berlin), March 2, to Paris, not printed, reported that the Department of the Army was advising Clay of the United States acceptance of March 20 as the date for the currency changeover. This date was to be treated by the three Governments as a firm commitment and the military Governors were to press forward with the necessary preparations. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/3–349)