Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 1

396.1 BE/1–954: Telegram

No. 330
The Assistant United States High Commissioner for Germany (Parkman) to the Department of State¹

confidential priority

Berlin, January 9, 1954—midnight.

733. Re Berlin’s 829 to Bonn, repeated Department 732, Paris 58, London 46, Moscow 131.² Up to Dengin’s last-minute introduction of new proposal re conference site, today’s meeting had largely consisted of tireless repetition by all representatives of various arguments for and against two building sites which had been proposed at January 9 meeting.³

After opening statements by three Western Cdt’s, including particularly comprehensive one by US Cdt, enumerating physical and other advantages of ACA building and disadvantages of Soviet Embassy building, Dengin for first time attacked argument that ACA building was particularly suitable because of its established quadripartite character. He asserted ACA activities had closed in 1948, that since then character of building had changed, and that it had lost its quadripartite nature. Cdt’s countered this assertion by pointing out that building still retains many four-power characteristics, including uninterrupted and continuing practice of flying flags all four powers, continued operation of several quadripartite agencies including Berlin Air Safety Center and Interzonal Facilities Bureau, and fact building still used as point of four-power contact in number other respects.

After long discussion this aspect, British Cdt introduced new element by stating that building proposed by Dengin was an Embassy to a country British Government did not even recognize and was therefore unacceptable as meeting place for Foreign Ministers. Dengin contended this argument groundless since building in question was also residence of Soviet HICOMer to Germany, who had in past received repeated visits from three Western HICOMers in this building. Dengin then turned to his proposal made at January 7 meeting⁴ that alternate meetings of Foreign Ministers be held in Soviet Embassy and ACA buildings making it clear his proposal included holding first meeting in Soviet Embassy. Without joining issue on question location of first meeting, three Cdt’s in turn attacked this proposal, standing with US Cdt in maintaining Soviet Embassy building did not, as did ACA building, meet requirements of building having quadripartite or international and not purely national character. Cdt’s also consistently declined Dengin’s repeated invitation to inspect premises of Soviet Embassy to determine its suitability.

Dengin’s next tactic was to concentrate on French Cdt, inquiring whether he had withdrawn his proposal made at January 7 meeting that one meeting take place in Soviet Embassy to every three in ACA building. French Cdt stated that what he had had in mind was one meeting in some Soviet sector building to every three in ACA building and he had strong reservations re use Soviet Embassy for any meeting. When asked by Dengin for his views this point, General Timberman said he had given careful study to all proposals which had been made and had determined that best solution was to hold all meetings in ACA building; he had no other proposal to make.

Dengin then read from written statement rejecting as completely groundless objections raised against “building of Soviet Embassy and residence Soviet HICOMers” as conference site, stating that Soviet HICOMer was in same position as those of Western powers, that Foreign Ministers’ conference should be quadripartite, and that consequently Soviet side proposed meetings take place alternately, with first in Soviet Embassy building.

After more than an hour’s repetitious discussion of this stale proposal, US Cdt stated that since time was of essence in reaching agreement on conference site and since this meeting was obviously getting nowhere, he proposed adjourning until afternoon January 11. After reluctantly agreeing Dengin then suddenly advanced new proposal indicated reference telegram—alternate meetings in Karlshorst (office of Soviet HICOMer) and ACA building. Three Cdt’s expressed objections but agreed consider proposal and meet again with Dengin January 11.

At one point during long meeting Dengin suggested consideration of other administrative questions which British Cdt had mentioned in January 7 meeting. Latter then proposed formation joint four-power secretariat for Foreign Ministers’ conference; French and US Cdt’s supported proposal. Dengin stated merely that this question was beyond his competence and then turned discussion back to problem of building site for conference.

Parkman

1. Also sent to Bonn, Paris, London, and Moscow.
2. Telegram 829 reported that after the U.S. Commandant had proposed adjournment of the Commandants meeting on Jan. 9, Dengin had proposed that the meetings of the Foreign Ministers be held on an alternate basis at the Karlshorst office of the Soviet High Commissioner and at the ACA building. (396.1 BE/1–954)
3. Verbatim minutes of this meeting are in CFM files, lot M 88, box 167, “Quadripartite Meeting of the Berlin Commandants”.
4. For a record of this meeting, see telegram 720, Document 327.