740.5/1–1651: Telegram

The United States High Commissioner for Germany ( McCloy ) to the Secretary of State 1

top secret

5841. Following is draft referred to in mytel sent Department 5840 repeated London 494, Paris 539, January 16.2

“Federal Chancellor and three High Commissioners have met in Petersberg to discuss question of German contribution to European defense and to preservation of peace. An agreement was reached about following joint declaration of principles:

I. At New York conference of September 19, 1950 Foreign Ministers of France, Great Britain, USA stated they would regard any attack upon Federal Republic or upon Berlin, from [Page 1454] whatever side it might come, as an attack upon themselves.3 To make this guarantee effective the three allied powers have agreed to increase and to reinforce within shortest possible period their troops stationed within Federal territory.

At conference of Brussels representatives of twelve Atlantic Treaty powers resolved on December 20, 1950 to organize for defense of Europe and defense of peace a joint army under a unified high command.4 Furthermore, twelve Atlantic Treaty powers expressed wish that Federal Republic of Germany should participate in joint army in form of German contingents, whereby extent and manner of German contribution remains to be settled by conclusion of contractual agreement with Federal Republic.

II. Federal Government, motivated by desire to make on its part a substantial contribution to joint defense in interest of preservation of peace and security of Europe, is prepared to make available German contingents for joint army on basis of complete equality.

III. Recognizing that an effective participation of Federal Republic of Germany in joint defense of Europe is based upon Federal Republic being integrated into system of European states as member with equal rights and equal obligations, three High Commissioners have transmitted to Federal Chancellor declaration on behalf of their governments that they are prepared to lift unilaterally imposed Occupation Statute and to regulate relations between Federal Republic and three allied powers by a system of contractual agreements.

Federal Chancellor and three High Commissioners agree that completion of this aim requires detailed preliminary work and negotiations which would extend over a fairly long period of time. The preliminary work will, however, be started immediately.

IV. Federal Government recognizes that presence of allied security troops within territory of Federal Republic creates special obligations for Federal Republic. It is prepared to accept these obligations on a contractual basis in a binding manner and to undertake:

A. To grant allied troops within territory of Federal Republic all rights and facilities which are required for carrying out of their tasks in common defense of Western Europe.

B. To make a financial contribution for joint defense of Europe in accordance with its economic capacity and under consideration of its special social charges.”5

McCloy
  1. Repeated to Paris and London.
  2. Supra.
  3. For documentation on the Foreign Ministers meetings at New York, September 12–19, 1950, including the text of the communiqué under reference here, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iii, pp. 1108 ff.
  4. For documentation on the sixth session of the NATO Council at Brussels, December 18–19, 1950, see ibid., pp. 585 ff.
  5. On January 19 the Department of State informed McCloy that it could see the value from the German viewpoint of a positive statement of this sort but that it had serious doubts about negotiating an agreed formula. The West German draft “in addition to being much too one-sided, wld tend to commit us in advance and tie our hands both with respect to procedure and substance of HICOM-Ger negots.” The Department of State also questioned the desirability of any statement that made Allied concessions on the new relationship appear to be the price for German participation in Western defense. (Telegram 5004 to Frankfurt, January 16, 740.5/1–1651)