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

396.1 BE/1–1254: Telegram

No. 332
The Assistant United States High Commissioner for Germany (Parkman) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

secret
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Berlin, January 12, 1954—4 a.m.

839. Re Berlin’s 838 to Bonn repeated Department 740, Paris 63, London 51, Moscow 136.² Despite helpfulness most recent instructions HICOG Bonn and Department (as well as from British and French Foreign Offices) in giving us greater degree of flexibility in negotiating with Dengin than heretofore, this factor [did not?] enable us reach agreement in January 11 meeting in view Dengin’s adamant adherence to earlier proposal meetings of Foreign Ministers be held alternately in east and west sectors. Since it was quite apparent he was bound by his instructions to hold fast to this concept, we reluctantly agreed at 0115 hours January 12 his proposal for adjournment until January 13.

Meeting largely followed course of previous two, with endless repetition by Dengin of his earlier arguments. Only new noteworthy features were following:

(1) Three Western representatives, starting with US chairman in opening statement, repeatedly gave recital of many concessions made thus far by three Western governments re place and time of four-power conference (acceptance Berlin instead of Lugano, January 25 instead of January 4 etc.), all given promptly and without discussion, and asked for similar evidence good faith Soviet representative in making conference possible.

(2) Deliberate and carefully planned movement forward was made by three Western commandants toward proposal outlined Berlin’s reference telegram, which comes close to final position outlined our most recent instructions from Bonn and Department, reserving as final concession point for next meeting agreeing to Soviet Embassy rather than Karlshorst as meeting place on three to one basis. (We did not use this point tonight in view Department’s instruction this a “last resort” compromise and because French also most reluctant give away on this yet. For this reason we were not yet able, as advocated by HICOG Bonn, to insist on principle each government must insist on chairmanship for his Foreign Minister every fourth meeting which would imply free choice in selection of meeting site.)

(3) When question of chairmanship various Foreign Ministers meetings came up indirectly several times, Dengin consistently stated this question was one which Foreign Ministers themselves must decide and was beyond competence of High Commissioners representatives.

(4) Dengin stubbornly took view that three to one proposal of Western representatives was inequitable, despite tireless exposition by latter on grounds of elementary equity, arithmetic, justice, etc. Dengin contended it was not equitable for three. Western Foreign Ministers each to have three meetings in building their own choice to one for Soviet Foreign Minister in building his choice. He remained completely deaf to argument proposed conference was four-power not two-power conference and even refused to discuss four-power equality this regard on theoretical grounds.

After tonight’s meeting we are convinced that most important factor to Soviets re conference site issue is principle of alternating meetings west and east sectors, which Dengin repeatedly contended was only real basis of “equality.” We believe it clear that such issues as where first meeting will be held and Soviet Embassy as against Karlshorst are subsidiary in their view to above principle and that they would readily yield on these points if they could get agreement to meetings on one to one basis. Dengin was obviously under instructions tonight not to concede on this point and we have no way of knowing whether he will receive different instructions for January 13 meeting. Therefore, within framework our existing instructions, we may face prospect another fruitless meeting at that time.

While we have thus far given press only noncommittal quadripartitely agreed communiqués, we wonder whether time not fast approaching when course and status of meetings should not be publicized, at least in broad outline. British and French here have opposed our suggestions this regard but HICOG Bonn and Department may wish take some action.

Parkman

1. Repeated to Moscow, Paris, London, Heidelberg, and Washington; the source text is the copy in Department of State files.
2. Telegram 838 reported that the Commandants meeting had lasted from 2:30 p.m. Jan. 11 to 1:15 a.m. Jan. 12 without producing an agreement. The Western Commandants had proposed that the first Foreign Ministers meeting be held at the ACA building, the second at Karlshorst, the next three at the ACA, the next one at Karlshorst etc., but Dengin had declined to accept this proposal. (396.1 BE/1–1254) Verbatim minutes of this meeting are in CFM files, lot M 88, box 167, “Quadripartite Meeting of the Berlin Commandants”.