Editorial Note

Following the transmission of telegram 8730 (supra), discussions took place in London, Paris, and Washington to coordinate the final text of the agreed tripartite response. The French disliked the United States draft since it did not seem to constitute a reply to the West German note and seemed to censure the Saar Government, while the British decided to use the United States draft as their own working paper rather than one they had prepared. During July further drafts were prepared, considered and rejected by one power or another until at the end of the month representatives from the United States and British Embassies and the French Foreign Ministry, working in Paris, succeeded in drafting an agreed tripartite reply that was delivered to Chancellor Adenauer by the Allied High Commission on August 3.

The note reiterated that the basis for the status of the Saar had been publicly stated on several occasions and reminded the West Germans “that the jurisdiction of the Federal Republic does not extend beyond its territorial limits”. After reaffirming that the final status of the Saar would be determined by the peace treaty, the note concluded:

“The three Governments naturally support the development of democratic institutions and respect for individual liberties in the Saar; finally they express their firm hope that all precautions will be taken to prevent the Saar problem from becoming a serious element of controversy and thus endangering the common objective of a close and lasting political and economic association of European nations, an objective which the three Governments know is fully shared by the Government of the Federal Republic.”

[Page 1980]

For a French text of this note, see Folliot, Documents on International Affairs, 1951, pages 247–248; an English text, transmitted in telegrams 711 and 719, August 1 and 2, from Paris, neither printed, is in file 762.022/8–151 and 251; further documentation relating to the preparation and consideration of the several drafts, including their texts, is in files 762A.00, 762.022, 850.33 and 862.19–Ruhr.