740.00119 Council/5–2849: Telegram

The United States Delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers to President Truman and the Acting Secretary of State

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Delsec 1810. For President and Acting Secretary. In brief sixth meeting CFM three Western Ministers presented and explained agreed US-UK-French paper on German unity.1 Vishinsky made brief reply but withheld substantive comment on paper.

Bevin as chairman opened meeting by stating that Western powers after giving careful consideration during past week to Vishinsky arguments believed that to accept Soviet proposal would be to (1) ignore US, UK and French public opinion, (2) repudiate promises of Potsdam, (3) cast aside evolution of four years in Germany, (4) ignore German opinion, (5) forget how far on road toward formation of German government CFM had progressed by time of London session. He said West powers could not see solution to problem as now presented. They had no antagonism toward USSR but rather genuine desire establish peaceful, coherent and democratic Germany. Bevin then circulated agreed Western paper which he stated was designed to meet whole of Point One on agenda and not just part of it.2 He set forth its aims to reduce occupation of Germany, produce unified German government operating on well defined democratic principles, and bring Germany into comity of European nations.

Acheson and Schuman briefly supported paper Acheson underlining Bevin statement that West believed initial occupation period has come to end. He said it was time responsibility was turned over to Germans and Germans given chance to work out own democratic system of government. Schuman suggested West sought modify separation of Germany, abolish four zones and create modified control mechanism. Vishinsky in brief reply stated that advance agreement by three powers gave impression of presenting fourth with fait accompli and that at first glance he considered it was “hardly suitable document for quadripartite agreement”. His tone was conciliatory and he said he would study document.

Next meeting 3:30 Monday.

Sent Department Delsec 1810, repeated London 342, Berlin 201,. Heidelberg 6, Moscow 108.

  1. For the text of this paper, circulated as CFM/P/49/3, see p. 1041.
  2. Point One of the agenda was “Problems of German Unity, including economic principles, political principles and Allied controls.”