Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 2

700.001/6–1151: Telegram

The Acting United States High Commissioner for Germany (Hays)¹ to the Secretary of State ²

secret
priority

Frankfurt, June 11, 1951—5 p. m.

9990. PEPCO. Re Berlin’s 1479 [1475] June 9 sent Frankfort 1665, not rptd Paris or London,³ and Ulbricht letter to Ger Peace Comite supporting World Peace Council proposal to send commission of prominent persons from abroad into both East and West Ger “to investigate what is being done in both parts of Ger for establishing peace-idea or for remilitarization”.⁴

1. Agree with Berlin’s assumption that maneuver will be executed. Such wld seem logical sequel to now completed remilitarization plebiscite in East Ger and method of keeping remilitarization issue alive in West Ger while seeking establish prestige of World Peace Council. Pose of impartial inspection intended display bona fides of Sovs and GDR and to keep West on defensive re remilitarization charges.

2. If maneuver executed, believe it will be executed quickly. This suggests necessity three powers having defined position available soonest either (a) to revive US proposal for inspection made last year, thus taking initiative,⁵ or (b) counter in manner designed to expose hollowness of Sov offer. Believe latter most feasible, in view time element and difficulty reaching tripartite position, but think this at least must be done as Sov–World Peace Council inspection offer cld otherwise tend to keep us on defensive.

3. Believe resurrection of reciprocal four power inspection rights raised in connection with three power notes on Sov Zone remilitarization in May, 1950, wld probably be ineffective. Furthermore, if Sov offer emanates through World Peace Congress, which we suspect Kremlin hopes to develop as competitor to UN, think three power counter shld suggest UN, rather than four powers, as executant of impartial investigation.

4. Suggest, therefore, that we institute steps soonest to develop three power position along lines which wld enable us to reply that we wld welcome a truly impartial inspection, possibly with neutral powers taking lead; but that we will not be party to sanctioning any inspection which is not thorough and which does not take into account Sov–GDR capacity to balk serious inspection or to hide real facts during period inspection. At same time three powers shld announce that no commission appointed by World Peace Congress and consisting, as it wld, of discredited Commie stooges, will be permitted inspection rights in West Ger.

If Dept agrees with this general approach, wld appreciate advice in order proceed discuss with Brit and French here.

Hays

1. McCloy was in the United States for consultations on Germany.
2. Repeated to Berlin, London, Moscow, and Bonn, and to Paris for Jessup, who was representing the United States at the Four-Power Exploratory talks.
3. Not printed; it reported that Ulbricht had sent a letter to the German Peace Committee along the lines indicated in this paragraph. (762B.00/6–951)
4. For additional documentation on the attitude of the United States toward the World Peace Congress, see volume iv .
5. For documentation on the U.S. note to the Soviet Union, May 23, 1950, regarding the remilitarization of the East Zone of Germany and proposals for inspection of the zones of occupation, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iv, pp. 948 ff.