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

762.00/4–350: Telegram

The United States Commander, Berlin (Taylor) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Frankfort

secret
priority

Berlin , April 3, 1950—6 p. m.

572. Reference mytel 558 April 2 rptd Dept 462 London 23 Paris 127.¹

I. British, French and US political advisers met today to study proposal for All Berlin elections. They decided matter assumed extra urgency in light information re possible Soviet move on April 15 (Paragraph 4 mytel 562 April 1 rptd Dept 466 London 26 Paris 131²) and additional information from Brit intelligence that Soviets planning some sort of démarche re Berlin on that date. PolAds felt it might therefore be advisable endeavor obtain tripartite clearances this week for proposal so that Berlin leaders can be approached with view to calling extraordinary City Assembly meeting April 13 to pass resolution for All Berlin elections. It was felt that should Soviets make any proposal April 15 re Berlin, however unacceptable, it would reduce potential propaganda value of subsequent west Berlin proposal, whereas prior action by City Assembly should spike whatever proposal Soviets may have in mind for April 15, and in any case May Day and Whitsuntide plans. HICOM understood to be discussing All Berlin election proposal April 6 and is hoped final agreement may be reached then.

II. PolAds considered Soviets might, without either accepting or rejecting proposal, come up with counter proposal involving following:

(a) Renewed quadripartite discussions re Berlin or lengthy exchange of notes or letters which would vitiate propaganda strength of original proposal.

(b) Renewal of proposals for City’s reunification made by Vyshinsky at Paris CFM.

(c) Request for resumption of quadripartite “normalization” talks.

(d) Possible new proposal on much broader basis, including withdrawal of occupation troops and establishment of Berlin as “free city”.

III. Against these risks (which should not be impossible to turn to our advantage if adroitly handled), PolAds considered it not too unlikely that, if We do not reach decision soon, Suhr³ and/or other Berlin leaders may take matters in own hands and initiate City Assembly action which, if not coordinated with US, might put US in embarrassing situation.

IV. PolAds therefore made following recommendations which I fully endorse:

(a) Suhr should convene extraordinary session of City Assembly for April 13 to pass resolution.

(b) Resolution should then be sent by Oberbuergermeister to four commandants individually, not to western commandants only with request that they approach Kotikov,⁴ as we originally suggested. (Reason for change is that direct approach from Assembly to Soviets would further reduce chances of latter’s acceptance, would not involve western commandants initiating what might develop into long drawn out correspondence or discussions with Kotikov, and would give western commandants opportunity to give their predetermined approval while Kotikov would have to delay reply pending instructions from Moscow.).

(c) Immediately upon receipt of Assembly Resolution April 13 western commandants would individually tell press they were glad Germans had taken initiative, that proposal would, of course, have to be studied, but that it appeared acceptable in principle.

(d) Following day (April 14) western commandants would reply either individually or jointly (to be determined later) to City Assembly in writing, with text of reply released to press.

V. City Assembly Resolution should be left to Germans to draft, subject to Commandants approval, but should include following points:

(a) City-wide elections on basis 1946 electoral law to elect City Govt which would operate under constitution approved by City Assembly April 22, 1948.

(b) City-wide freedom of Assembly and political activity during election campaign.

(c) Maintenance of liberalized allied control as set forth in statement of principles.

(d) Request made by City Assembly as “only legally elected representatives of people of greater Berlin”.

VI. In written reply to Assembly proposal, Western Commandants would say that they approve plan as reasonable basis for reunification of city which they have long wished to see and that they would be glad have Soviets return to Allied Kommandatura provided they accept abolition of veto. As regards the 1948 Constitution, they would say that although Article I(2) and (3) cannot be effective at present since there exists no unified “German Republic” of which Berlin could be a member or whose Constitution and laws could be binding for Berlin, Article I(1), which declares Berlin a “German land and at the same time a city”, could stand since the Western Allies are fully prepared to accord Berlin land status.

I hope that tripartite agreement on above may be reached this week. If plan is to be carried out in Assembly meeting April 13, we will have to approach Suhr and party leaders this weekend and also endeavor contact Reuter who is on leave. Without so doing, in view Easter holidays, April 13. Assembly meeting otherwise impossible. Although no positive information obtained re possible Soviet plans for April 15, I believe that, if we are to carry out our proposal, we should not run risk of having Soviets spoil its propoganda effectiveness by prior move.⁵

Sent Frankfort 572 rptd Dept 475 London 27 Paris 134.

Taylor

1. Not printed; it reported that the Western Commandants and their political advisers had met on April 1 at Taylor’s request to discuss the approach to the Soviet authorities concerning city-wide elections. While the “French Commandant considered proposal offered great propaganda advantage and said he believed he could obtain approval within few days”, the British Commandant “took somewhat lukewarm attitude.” Both Commandants “felt proposal should be made in such terms that Soviets would be compelled to turn it down” since “Soviet acceptance would face us with most difficult situation.” (762.00/4–250)
2. Not printed; it reported that the Soviets might be planning an initiative for all-German elections before April 15 (762.00/4–150).
3. Otto Suhr, a leader of the Berlin Social Democratic Party.
4. Brigadier General Alexander Kotikov, Commandant of the Soviet sector of Berlin.
5. In telegram 2324, April 5, to Frankfort, not printed, the Department of State approved the proposal of the Political Advisers (762A.00/4–550). On April 6, the Council of the Allied High Commission for Germany discussed the question of city-wide elections and issued instructions to the Commandants that (a) it approved holding elections on an assured democratic basis; (b) it had no objection to a demand by the City Assembly for such elections; (c) the Commandants should not impose conditions on the Assembly but should inform the Lord Mayor unofficially of their views: and (d) they should consider any resolution by the Assembly in the light of Allied responsibilities for Berlin. (Telegram 134, April 6, from Bonn, not printed, 762A.00/4–650)