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

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 205

No. 396
Minutes of a Meeting of the United States Delegation at the Berlin Conference, February 1, 1954, 9:30 a.m.

secret
USDEL MIN–6

February 1, 1954

• Present: The Secretary
• Special Advisers
• Advisers

Press Reactions

Mr. Tyler reported that the general tone of the French press was calm. There was no significant editorial comment. Most papers point out that, although the tone of the four-power discussions have been friendly, this does not mean that agreement is any easier or nearer. There was a good play in the non-Communist press of the speech by M. Bidault on Saturday. The U.S. position is favorably commented on. In general, note of resignation as to the outcome of the Conference seems to be entering the press treatment.

Mr. Boerner said that the two small papers in Berlin continued along the line of restrained optimism. In Western Germany the general theme is that the first week of discussions have gone well. The SPD papers have adopted a carping line on certain details of the negotiations. For example, they have objected to the references to the Versailles Treaty made by Secretary Dulles and the provisions of the Eden plan¹ for leaving the GDR and West German governments in power for a certain length of time after the elections. The Communist press in Germany gives top treatment to the Grotewohl letter to the Conference² and are trying to develop the theme that this is what the East and West German people really want.

Mr. Jackson stated that the telegraphic summary of the U.S. press reaction had been received. However, the stories filed by the U.S. wire services all point to the progress made last week, although stressing that the tough decisions lie ahead. In general stories do not strike a very hopeful note. All wire services filed feature stories on the visit of correspondents to the Soviet Unter den Linden Building.

Official German Reactions

Ambassador Conant commented on the sharp contrast in views revealed in his discussions of yesterday with the SPD and the Adenauer government representatives.³ He said that the SPD representatives are more hopeful of the outcome of the Conference and are apparently more willing to make concessions in order to reach agreement with the Soviets. Mr. Blankenhorn on the other hand did not hold high expectations for the success of the Conference and talked frankly about how the talks might eventually be broken off.

Tripartite Meetings

Mr. MacArthur stated that the Tripartite Working Group had discussed security precautions to be taken by the three delegations at the meetings to be held at the Unter den Linden Building. It was the general view that the delegations should arrive immediately prior to the time of the meetings. He anticipated that the working group would go more fully into the subject of security this morning. The working group will also discuss tactics for today’s meeting and the Austrian question.

Quadripartite Meeting

The Secretary stated that for this afternoon’s quadripartite meeting Molotov probably would make a long speech on the German problem to which he would have to reply. Since it would be his turn to speak immediately after Molotov, his remarks would in large measure be extemporaneous. He inquired as to what was being done in the way of supporting material. Mr. Bowie replied that a series of questions had been drafted which the Secretary could use to probe the soft spots in the Soviet position.

The Secretary then announced that he probably would hold a preliminary meeting with Messrs. Bidault and Eden at 2:20 p.m. in the ACA Building.⁴

Security Precautions at the Unter den Linden Building

Mr. Herfurt, Delegation Security Officer, concluded the meeting with a detailed briefing on precautions to be taken by all Delegation members at the Unter den Linden Building.

1. For this plan, see FPM(54)17, Document 510.
2. A copy of this letter, dated Jan. 30, which contained seven numbered proposals for a peaceful solution to the German question, is attached as Annex 4 to BER D–4/1a in Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 200. The U.S. Delegation transmitted a summary of the letter in telegram 833 from Berlin, Feb. 1. (762.00/2–154)
3. On Feb. 1 Conant had reported that Bonn political parties had been unable to agree on a joint statement supporting the British proposal (FPM(54)17) and rejecting dealings with the East German Government. (Telegram 2435 from Bonn, 762.00/2–154)
4. No record of this meeting has been found in Department of State files. A paper dated Feb. 1 in the records of the U.S. Delegation indicates that Secretary Dulles was to raise the three following points: (1) tripartite proposal for a five-power meeting, (2) security precautions at Unter den Linden, and (3) tactics for the plenary meeting. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 204)