396.1/11–450: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

confidential
priority

973. Following is text note referred to my immediately preceding telegram.1 Department please pass both messages London, Paris, Frankfort.

[Page 903]

“On instructions Soviet Government Minister of Foreign Affairs USSR has honor state following:

On September 19, 1950, communiqué was published re meeting in New York of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of USA, Great Britain and France on question of Germany.2 Seen from communiqué that principal question of meeting of three Ministers was question of creation German army, question of remilitarization of Western Germany.

On October 20 and 21 meeting was held in Praha of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Rumania, Hungary and German Democratic Republic, as result of which declaration was published containing proposals, directed, in conformity with Potsdam Agreement, to early peace settlement for Germany and to accomplishment demilitarization Germany. Soviet Government fully shares the proposals mentioned as well as Praha declaration as whole, text of which enclosed herewith.3

Soviet Government considers that questions concerned in communiqué of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of USA, Great Britain and France of September 19 and also in Praha declaration possess greatest significance for cause of assuring international peace and security and touch fundamental national interests of peoples of Europe and in first instance peoples who suffered from Hitlerite aggression.

Taking into account important significance of question of fulfillment decisions of Potsdam Conference regarding demilitarization of Germany and also the divergencies existing in the positions of Four Powers occupying Germany on this question, Soviet Government considers it necessary to discuss these questions without delay. With these purposes in mind Soviet Government submits proposal for calling Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of USA, Great Britain, France and USSR for consideration of question of fulfillment of Potsdam Agreement regarding demilitarization Germany.

Soviet Government hopes receive answer of Government of USA regarding present proposal at very early date.

Soviet Government is simultaneously sending similar notes to Governments of Great Britain and France.”4

Kirk
  1. In telegram 972, November 3, from Moscow, not printed, Kirk reported that he had been called to see Gromeko at 11:15 p. m. (Moscow time) and had been handed the Soviet note.
  2. For the text of the Western Foreign Ministers communiqué on Germany, September 19, see vol. iii, p. 1296.
  3. For the text of the declaration by the Soviet and satellite Ministers, see Beate Ruhm von Oppen, ed., Documents on Germany Under Occupation, 1945–1954 (London, Oxford University Press, 1955), pp. 522–527. A copy was not attached to the source text.
  4. For the Russian text of the note, see Vneshniaia politika Sovetskogo Soiuza, dokumenty i materialy, 1950 god (Moscow, Gospolitizdat, 1953), pp. 231–233 or Izvestiia, #264, November 5, 1950. In telegram 975, November 4, from Moscow, not printed, Ambassador Kirk speculated that:

    “this may be time for us to seize initiative to attain two important objectives: (a) Conclusion of Austrian Peace Treaty, (b) Dramatization before world opinion, in event of CFM, of concept that Soviet camouflage and concealment are key factors in preventing mutually satisfactory agreement on such important problems as demilitarization of Germany, control of atomic energy and general reduction of armaments.” 762A.5/11—450)