396.1 BE/2–554: Telegram
No. 429
The United States
Delegation at the Berlin Conference to the Department of State1
niact
Secto 94. After consultation with Eden and Bidault, it was agreed that at the conclusion of this afternoon’s quadripartite meeting I should propose that the restricted meeting on agenda item I (which [Page 973] last week the four powers agreed to have) be held on Monday, February 8.2
Accordingly, I made this proposal at the end of today’s meeting and it was accepted by all four delegates. Molotov’s only comment was “the Soviet Delegate has no objection”.
In making the proposal I made clear that the restricted meeting would deal only with reserved subjects under agenda item I (i.e., five power conference and disarmament proposal) and possibly procedural questions. On latter, we have in mind seeking agreement on date next week to invite Austrians to appear for opening discussion on item III (Austria) if we do not in fact settle this matter at regular meeting tomorrow. Latter depends, however, on agreement of French and British which not yet obtained. Under above formulation [of?] topics to be discussed at restricted meeting we are in position to make clear publicly that Germany will not be discussed at such meeting.
This telegram is not being repeated to Vienna in view iffy status on timing for item III. We will, of course, notify Vienna after tomorrow morning’s tripartite steering group meeting3 if there is tripartite agreement to raise date for Austrian appearance at tomorrow afternoon’s quadripartite meeting.
- Repeated to Paris.↩
- Regarding the conclusion of the eleventh plenary, see Secto 96, Document 427.↩
- For a record of the meeting of the Tripartite Working Group on Feb. 6, BER MIN–13, see Document 432.↩