CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 143: USDel Working Paper Series

Proposal by the United States Delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers1

secret

USDel Working Paper/32 Rev. 62

Provisions for Permanent Consultations on Germany

Despite the inability at this session of the CFM to reach agreement on the restoration of the economic and political unity of Germany, the four Ministers will continue their efforts to achieve this result, and, in particular, now agree as follows:

1.
During the course of the Fourth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations to be convened next September, the four Governments, through representatives at the Assembly, will exchange views regarding the date and other arrangements for the next session of the CFM on the German question.
2.
The Occupation Authorities, in the light of the intention of the Ministers to continue their efforts to achieve the restoration of the economic and political unity of Germany, shall consult together in Berlin on a quadripartite basis.
3.
These consultations will have as their purpose among others to mitigate the effects of the present administrative division of Germany and of Berlin notably in the matters listed below:—
(a)
Expansion of trade and development of the financial relations and economic relations between the Western Zones and the Eastern Zone and between Berlin and the Zones, in accordance with the following principles, inter alia:
(i)
An increase in such trade should be encouraged with a view to its reaching a level substantially higher than that which took place in 1947 or in 1948;
(ii)
There should be a balance in the flow of essential goods, and in the flow of non-essential goods between areas in which different currencies circulate as long as present conditions prevail.
(b)
Facilitation of the movement of persons and goods and the exchange of information between the Western Zones and the Eastern Zone and between Berlin and the Zones.
(c)
Consideration of questions of common interest relating to the administration of the four Sectors in Berlin with a view to normalizing, as far as possible, the life of the city.
4.
In order to assist in the work envisaged in paragraph 3 the respective Occupation Authorities may call upon German experts and appropriate German organizations in their respective jurisdictions for assistance. The Germans so called upon should exchange pertinent data, prepare reports, and, if agreed between them, submit proposals to the Occupation Authorities.
5.
The Governments of France, the USSK, the United Kingdom and the United States agree that the New York Agreement of May 4, 19493 shall be maintained. Moreover, in order to promote further the aims set forth in the preceding paragraphs and in order to improve and supplement this and other arrangements and agreements as regards the movement of persons and goods and communications between the Eastern Zone and the Western Zones and between the Zones and Berlin, the Occupation Authorities, each in his own Zone, will have an obligation to take the measures necessary to ensure the normal functioning and utilization of rail, water and road transport for such movement of persons and goods, and such communications by post, telephone and telegraph.
6.
The Occupation Authorities will recommend to the leading German economic bodies of the Eastern and Western Zones to facilitate [Page 1057] the establishment of closer economic ties between the Zones and more effective implementation of trade and other economic agreements.

  1. A copy of this proposal was sent to Vyshinsky on June 15. It was discussed at the 21st and 22nd meetings of the Council, June 16 and 19, 1949; for the minutes of these sessions, see pp. 1009 and 1026.
  2. At a meeting of the three Western Foreign Ministers on June 15, USDel Working Paper/32 Rev. 5 (p. 1051) and the Soviet counter-proposals (indicated in footnotes to USDel Working Paper/32 Rev. 5) were considered, and the former paper was revised to take’into consideration the Soviet desiderata. The resulting paper, USDel Working Paper/32 Rev. 6, was sent to Vyshinsky directly after the meeting of the Ministers. The record of this meeting is in CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 140: Tripartite Meeting of the Ministers.
  3. Under reference here is the Four-Power communiqué May 5, 1949, in which the four occupying powers in Germany stated their agreement to lift the restrictions on trade and communications with Berlin and to convene a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. The text of this communiqué is printed on p. 751.