Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

762.00/9–2750: Telegram

The United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy) to the United States Liaison and Political Reporting Division, at Bonn

secret   niact

Frankfort, September 27, 1950—6 p. m.

49. From PEPCO. Re Bonn’s 190 September 26, repeated Department 169, Berlin 75,¹ we note Chancellery will forward to HICOM Bundestag resolution of September 14,² paragraph 2 of which asks that occupation powers arrange for free all-German elections, with request that HICOM forward resolution to Soviet Control Commission (Frankfort’s 2447 to Department 20, sent Berlin 158, repeated Bonn 46³).

We feel that most advantageous course of action would be following, timed perhaps for end of next week (October 7–9):

1. HICOM to acknowledge resolution, endorse it and issue strong protest, within context FM statement on subject, against Soviet Zone elections, emphasizing that elections will not be recognized as representative of will of East Germans, as democratic, or as capable of “legitimating” GDR.

2. HICOM to forward text of resolution to SCC through General Chuikov, in much same manner as Bundestag resolution of March 22 was transmitted under cover of individual HICOG letters of May 26 to Chuikov, and again express willingness to participate in conduct of all-German elections within the intendment of Bundestag resolutions of March 22 and September 14. HICOM protest (paragraph 1 above) might well be embodied in letter to Chuikov forwarding resolution.

3. West Germans construe reference to all-German elections as propagandistic only (because timed for eve of Soviet Zone elections), stress of HICOM statement should be on protesting non-representative nature of elections and transition to renewal of offer of all-German elections could perhaps be made by statement that Soviet Zone elections were not type of free all-German elections envisaged in Bundestag resolutions, or in Allied offer of May 26, as required to pave way for unification of Germany.

Please discuss this outline of action with British, French and Germans and report reactions soonest.⁴

We assume former French reluctance to follow up on HICOG letters of May 26 to Chuikov should have been overcome by FM statement on “staged” nature of Soviet Zone elections and reaffirmation of principle that free all-German elections could point way toward German unification. Any fear that renewal such offer might accelerate possible Soviet campaign for high level or CFM talks (c.f. recent Malik statement on subject⁵) could, we think, be overcome by suggestion within HICOM statement that if Soviets sincere in effort reunite Germany they will call off October 15 elections and arrange for free and democratic elections of type FedRep and Allies propose. Such would obviously make offer impossible of acceptance before Soviet Zone elections and, after the event, we would be in no worse position than now to discuss merits of talks with Soviets.

Inform British and French that recent advices from reliable Soviet Zone sources confirm that HICOG letters of May 26 on all-German elections made profound impression in Soviet Zone, that sources believe reiteration of offer would constitute one of most encouraging moves FedRep and Allies could make on eve Soviet Zone elections, and that renewal offer would be considered by East Germans as an earnest of sincerity West Germans to work for unification of Germany.

Sent Bonn 49, repeated information Department 2624, Paris 215, London 193, Berlin 176. [PEPCO.]

McCloy

1. Not printed; it reported that the Ministry for All-German Affairs had asked for the forwarding of a Bundestag resolution to the Allied Council with the request for its transmittal to the Soviet Control Commission (762A.00/9–2650).
2. For the full text of the resolution and a statement, read by Chancellor Adenauer previous to its adoption, concerning all-German elections and the October 15 East Zone elections, see Documents on German Unity (Frankfort, Office of the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany, 1951), pp. 153–155.
3. Not printed; in it Hays asked PEPCO for its estimate of the Soviet line calling for all-Berlin elections. Was it directed at the new constitution or West Berlin elections, or might it extend to acceptance of the Allied offer for all-German elections? (762.00/9–2050)
4. In telegram 194, September 28, to Frankfort, not printed, the Liaison Division at Bonn reported that the British and French officials agreed to recommend to their superiors that any communication from the Federal Government be forwarded to the United Nations and to Chuikov (762.00/9–2850).
5. Presumably a reference to the statement by Jacob A. Malik, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister and Representative to the United Nations, on September 25, in response to a series of questions by the Maryland Committee for Peace, that he favored a meeting between the United States and the Soviet Union to negotiate a settlement of differences in the interest of peace.