740.5/9–1454: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Butterworth) to the Department of State 1
1309. FonOff showed us this morning brief telegram outlining in most general terms Eden’s talk with Adenauer as it touched on contractual relations.2 Adenauer thought easiest way for everybody, including French, was for tripartite powers to renounce in formal declaration their occupation rights. While apparently Adenauer did not specifically say so, he implied that FedRep would issue counter declaration to effect that pending final settlement of forces, finance and other conventions would remain in force.
One thing Adenauer insisted upon was renunciation of emergency clause. Working level FonOff considers this reasonable demand on grounds that with FedRep in NATO all forces would go into action if necessary regardless of any reserved power. Adenauer recognized special position of Berlin.
Germans apparently according FonOff, had not decided how they would prefer to handle agreements revising occupation powers but one thought was that FedRep would declare conventions in force minus certain provisions in each convention. It was agreed that Grewe and Bathhurst, respectively German and British legal experts, would engage immediately in informal talks on matter.
FonOff’s impression is that Adenauer is reasonable about contractuals and anticipates no great trouble. In fact, it is from British military that FonOff anticipates real trouble on question of status of forces agreement.
- Repeated to Bonn and Paris.↩
- In telegram 1317 from London, Sept. 14, the Embassy supplemented the information provided in the source text by noting that Adenauer was “very forthcoming on accepting the limitations on German rearmament to be embodied in either Brussels agreement or NATO,” provided they dealt with the following points: Limitations on the size of the force, undertaking to refrain from manufacturing certain types of atomic weapons and guided missiles, and rationalizing war material production. (740.5/9–1454)↩