Office of the Historian

396.1 BE/1–554

No. 321
The Secretary of State to Foreign Secretary Eden1
confidential
Washington, January 5, 1954.

Now that Soviets have formally agreed to conference Berlin beginning January 25, I suggest we plan to meet in Paris on January 22 and 23, in order complete our plans and settle any remaining points relative Berlin Conference. I would leave here night of January 20 arriving Paris evening January 21. Thus we would have all Friday and Saturday Paris for our discussions.

Since we aim at having Conference concentrate on German and Austrian problems, especially former, I feel it very important we consult Adenauer briefly before Berlin. Rather than our visiting Bonn, it might be better ask him come Paris for meeting with us afternoon January 23. This could follow tripartite meeting that morning and previous day and still leave us all day Sunday to get to Berlin and settled there in preparation for Conference opening next day. With flying weather as uncertain as it is at this season, I believe we should leave ourselves this degree of latitude.

I would appreciate your reaction above suggestion and am greatly looking forward to seeing you and working with you at Conference.

  1. Transmitted to London in telegram 3488, Dec. 5. An identical message was sent to Bidault in telegram 2400 to Paris the same day, and repeated to HICOG Bonn, HICOG Berlin, and Moscow.↩