740.5/10–2751: Telegram
The United States Delegation at the Tripartite Talks on German Security Controls to the Secretary of State 1
2058. From USDel Ger security.
1. At mtg on security of heads of delegations Friday2 it was decided to transmit to governments a report of agreements that have been reached on security and of disagreements that remain reference heavy mil equip, generally following steering comite report which is document TGG(SC) P.20 (Final),3 copies of which were air mailed 26 Oct.
2. Heads of delegations agreed steering comite shld meet again to explore alternate solution on heavy mil equip by prohibiting a few critical components with view toward heads of delegations including in their report to govts statement that no agreement cld be reached on the definition of heavy mil equip and reasons therefore are particularly [Page 1708] different approach which for French and British was to provide security against future threat of German aggression and US was to insure German production to assist in arming German contribution of manpower. Report to govts wld state further that this alternate solution outside our basic terms of reference but had been agreed on an ad referendum basis, and recommending govts approve it.
3. Steering comite met today. Magruder assisted by Mayer from HICOG and Meuller of Defence Production Board. Comite agreed as an acceptable alternate for prohibitions on heavy mil equip they wld recommend:
- a.
- Prohibition of manufacture of gun barrels of caliber greater than 60 mm.
- b.
- Prohibition of manufacture of propellants.
- c.
- Limitation on expansion of German manufacture of explosives to those required by Germany for peacetime use, German ammo requirements and for any orders placed by NATO countries.
- d.
- Prohibition on manufacture of armor plate of a thickness greater than 50 mm.
- e.
- Prohibition of specialized machinery that cld be used only for the production of the prohibited items.
- f.
- Reference Steering Comite report (P. 20), British member of Steering Comite agreed to withdraw report his reservation on aircraft components. French member agreed to withdraw his insistence on limitation of German industrial capacity.
4. Report to govts will carry as inclosures agreed reports on all items on Brussels prohibited list except heavy mil equip and alternate proposal on heavy mil equip with recommendation that shld govts approve the agreements and the alternate proposal, they be utilized as the basis of negots with the Federal Republic. Proposal was made to submit tripartite report to High Commissioners for comment but agreement cld be reached only on referring report individually by each power to its own High Commissioner if so desired.
5. Request US head of del be notified of US approval or of specific disagreements. Heads of delegations propose to meet again on 6 Nov to confirm agreement by each govt or to consider disagreements. Date set on assumption new Brit Govt cld act by that time.
6. Subcomite report on alternate solution on heavy mil equip will be air mailed about 31 Oct.
7. Magruder returning about 1 Nov to explain provisions and seek approval. Re Reinstein–Lewis telecon Oct 26,4 Reinstein will return to Washington about Nov 1 for several days consultation if finance discussions permit, and if Dept approves.
- Repeated to Heidelberg, Frankfurt, and Paris.↩
- October 26.↩
- A copy of TGG(SC)P.20(Final), not printed, which reported the positions of the delegations on atomic energy, chemical and biological warfare, naval warship manufacturing, aircraft, heavy military equipment, guided missiles, electronics, and scientific research, is in the CFM files, lot M–88, box 205, TGG(SC)P.↩
- No record of this telecon has been found in the Department of State files.↩