No. 603
Editorial Note
During the London Nine-Power Conference, September 28–October 3, the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France issued a declaration which reads in part:
“5. The security and welfare of Berlin and the maintenance of the position of the Three Powers there are regarded by the Three Powers as essential elements of the peace of the free world in the present international situation. Accordingly they will maintain armed forces within the territory of Berlin as long as their responsibilities require it. They therefore reaffirm that they will treat any attack against Berlin from any quarter as an attack upon their forces and themselves.”
For text of this declaration and related documentation concerning the London Nine-Power Conference, see volume V, Part 2, pages 1294 ff.
Following the London conference further nine-and four-power discussions were held at Paris, resulting on October 23 in a series of agreements several of which affected Berlin or contained provisions dealing with the city. The first was a statement by the Foreign Ministers on Berlin which reads as follows:
“With respect to Berlin, in addition to the Allied security guarantees for the city in the London communiqué of October 3, 1954, [Page 1397] [the paragraph quoted above] the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have noted with deep satisfaction the close and friendly cooperation between the Allied and Berlin authorities. The Three Powers are determined to ensure the greatest possible degree of self-government in Berlin compatible with Berlin’s special situation. Accordingly, the three Governments have instructed their representatives in Berlin to consult with the authorities of that city with a view to implementing jointly and to the fullest degree possible the foregoing principles.” (Department of State Bulletin, November 15, 1954, page 732)
The second was a statement in the Tripartite Agreement on the Exercise of Retained Rights in Germany which reads as follows:
“3. Those rights which relate to Berlin will continue to be exercised in Berlin pursuant to existing procedures, subject to any future modifications which may be agreed.”
For text of the Tripartite Agreement, see volume V, Part 2, page 1439.
The third and fourth agreements which affected Berlin were a Declaration by the Federal Republic of Germany on Relations with Berlin, May 26, 1952, as amended October 23, 1954, and a letter from the Allied High Commissioners to Chancellor Adenauer on the relations between the Federal Republic and Berlin, amending in a similar manner the previous letter of May 26, 1952. For the text of the two documents dated May 26, 1952, see Annex A to Document 51 and Document 58. For text of the Federal declaration, see infra; and for the text of the High Commissioners’ letter, which is nearly the same as that printed as Document 58, see Documents on Germany 1944–1985, pages 437–438.