Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 205

No. 416
Minutes of a Meeting of the United States Delegation at the Berlin Conference, February 4, 1954, 9:30 a.m.

secret
USDEL MIN/8
  • Present: The Secretary
  • Special Advisers
  • Advisers

Press Reaction

With respect to the French press reactions, Mr. Tyler reported that the Conference for the first time was not receiving top headline treatment in the French press. Two important papers carried yesterday’s stories on page 3. Nearly all the papers follow the line that the Molotov proposal for an all-German referendum is not worthy of consideration. A left-wing non-Communist paper says that Molotov is stalling and speculates that the Soviets may come around to an acceptance of German participation in EDC as a lesser evil. With respect to EDC, all papers state that Western Germany should have a free choice. The neutralist press, however, take the line that the present discussions pose problems with respect to ratification of the EDC and inquiries how France could join EDC if Germany has the free option to join or not to join.

In the Communist press the crypto-Communist “liberation” headlines the Molotov referendum proposal. Mr. Jackson observed that it was remarkable that the French did not give top play to the [Page 951] Soviet referendum proposal, since the substance of Molotov’s proposal was leaked to the French press early in the Quadripartite session.

Mr. Boerner reviewed the German press reactions. The majority of the papers treat the Soviet referendum proposal as a propaganda trick to gain time and to avoid meeting directly the issue of free German elections. Even the SPD papers say that the proposed plebiscite is not a genuine alternative, although they hold to the line taken by Ollenhauer that Molotov’s speech on Monday contained points which might provide a basis for negotiations.1 In an all-day session yesterday, the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee issued a unanimous statement expressing its bitter disappointment over the Molotov proposal. The news emanating from official Government sources develops the line that the Molotov proposal is not a genuine alternative and is superfluous in any event, since all-German elections would provide the answer as to German views.

The East Zone Volkskammer presented another resolution on the proposed referendum and demanded annulment of the Paris and Bonn Treaties. In the East Zone press, Molotov was not given top billing. In the Soviet press briefing last night, the Soviet briefing officers merely read Molotov’s speech and gave no indication that the other Foreign Ministers had replied. Only one Communist paper, which has a small circulation in West Berlin, mentioned the fact that anything happened after Molotov’s statement.

Mr. Jackson reported that US press statement yesterday was devoted almost entirely to the Secretary’s statement on Tuesday,2 characterizing it as an effective counter-punch. The stories filed by the wire services last night emphasized the Molotov proposal for an all-German plebiscite but rejected it as not being a genuine alternative. The proposal was interpreted as a propaganda move and Molotov’s present tactics as one of stalling on the issue of all-German elections.

Tripartite Meeting

Mr. MacArthur announced that the Tripartite Working Group would discuss tactics for today’s meeting. The Group will also discuss any problems with respect to the invitation issued by the Soviet Delegation for the other Delegations to attend a concert at the Unter den Linden building.3

  1. For a summary of Molotov’s speech at seventh plenary on Feb. 1, see Secto 66, Document 399.
  2. For text of Secretary Dulles’ statement on Feb. 2, see Secto 70, Document 407.
  3. For a report on the meeting of the Tripartite Working Group, see BER MIN–11, infra.