762A.00/12–651: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy) to the Acting Secretary of State 1
priority
646. Common front between Fed Govt and SPD on Ger unity issue, which broke down over Fed Govt’s proposed All-Ger Election Law, has now reached status of complete impasse, with failure of Fed Govt [Page 1815] to consult SPD on appointment of Ger delegation to UN. On December 5 Govt announced appointment of Berlin Mayor Reuter, CDU Faction Chief Brentano and FDP Deputy Faction Leader Schaefer.
This selection, especially because of lack of bipartisan consultation, has deeply disappointed and angered Schumacher. He told Liaison Bonn that while SPD naturally had no objections to Reuter, fact must be understood he is going only as Lord Mayor of Berlin and not as party del, which means that SPD will not be represented at UN hearing. Accordingly, Schumacher implied, any actions of Ger delegation “wld not have weight of truly bipartisan delegation”. He then bitterly castigated govt, especially Adenauer and Hallstein, for unilateral decisions on East–West matters and stupidity of ignoring importance of SPD. He charged that dels Brentano and Schaefer were not qualified as East–West experts and could not be expected to present West Ger case as effectively as could be done by Wehner (SPD) and others. Schumacher so irked by govt’s action “which lacked any consideration” that he declared it was now too late to induce SPD to send reps, even if govt reversed its decision.
Unfortunate development leading to end of bipartisan policy, as Schumacher pointed out, began when Fed Govt proposed an All-Ger Election Law to which SPD could not agree. This proposal resulted in exchange of letters between Schumacher and Adenauer as rptd ourtel Frankfort 479, Dept 384, Paris 160, pouched London, Berlin, Moscow, November 14.2 Schumacher stated that his last letter to Chancellor on this subject had still not been answered.
In explanation of his and Adenauer’s handling of case, Hallstein tells us he was informed in writing by Ganeval Poncet that UN had invited three Ger dels each from East and West Ger. Furthermore, Hallstein states only three seats available at conference table. Finally, he felt it bad psychology to send large delegation for first appearance of FedRep at UN. Between Wehner and Reuter, he pointed out, there was really no choice but latter. Hallstein expressed regret at Wehner’s and Schumacher’s indignation claiming he had high opinion of former. He said he wld make it clear thru Fed Press Office that invitation had been limited to three.
Thedieck, Hallstein says, will accompany delegation as a technical expert. Del will arrive Paris Friday but Reuter who has been ill may be a day late.
Comment: Altho Schumacher–Adenauer controversy over proposed All-Ger Election Law and strong SPD suspicion that Chancellor really luke-warm on unity, contributed to deterioration of common [Page 1816] front, we believe possibility existed that these factors could have been overcome. Continued failure of Fed Govt since that time to attempt to heal breach and latest unilateral move re selection of dels without any SPD consultation, has aroused Schumacher to point where reestablishment of common front will be extremely difficult.