762.00/10–351: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State 1
priority
1998. From MacArthur. Gen Eisenhower is greatly concerned over developments in German situation, notably Grotewohl proposal and prospect that East German Commies may accept West German conditions for holding national elections looking to unification of Germany. Concern here stems from obvious fact that purpose this Commie maneuver; is first to bring to halt and then completely sabotage allied negotiations re German defense contribution (EDF) and finally to neutralize Germany and deny it to West.
Gen. Eisenhower believes we should now be concentrating our most intensive effort on how to meet this situation so that we can go ahead and conclude our negotiations re German defense contribution regardless of how Grotewohl proposal evolves. He believes we should at once impress on UK and Fr urgency of developing soonest an agreed tripartite course of action which West German Govt might follow to insure best possible chance of concluding present defense negotiations with Germany in coming weeks. [MacArthur.]
- Repeated to London and Frankfurt; copy relayed to the Department of Defense.↩