Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

662A.00/11–2454: Telegram

No. 606
The Director of the Berlin Element, HICOG (Parkman) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

confidential

Berlin, November 24, 1954—7 p.m.

366. Full Allied and German agreement now achieved on text commandants declaration of intent regarding future Allied-Berlin relationships. Formal communication to Governor Mayor and release to press contemplated afternoon November 25 for publication morning November 26.

Final text is that given in Berlin telegram November 12 sent Bonn 34 repeated Department 313² modified in accordance proposal in paragraph 4 Berlin telegram November 12 sent Bonn 342 repeated Department 314.³ British and French concurrence not obtainable without this modification.

British and French agreement was conditioned on complete acceptance by Berlin authorities of understanding (1) that list of matters with respect to which commandants “resolved to exercise their powers only to the extent necessary” is not exhaustive or all-inclusive and (2) that declaration is not replacement of existing statement of principles but only broad statement of intent without legal effect to be followed later by new basic document on Allied-Berlin relationships to be worked out in consultation with Berlin authorities. Both Governor Mayor Schreiber (CDU) and Speaker of House Suhr (SPD) concur in this understanding.

Final agreed text reads as follows:

Begin verbatim text:

“Acting in accordance with the instructions which they have received from their respective governments,

Having exchanged views with the Berlin authorities,

Desiring to develop further the close and cordial relations existing between them,

Mindful of their continuing responsibility for the security of Berlin and of their interest in its welfare,

Resolved to exercise their powers only to the extent necessary to maintain the status and security of Berlin, its economy, trade, and communications, to insure the maintenance and security of the Allied forces in Berlin, and to fulfill the obligations under international agreements and other commitments of their governments,

The US, French, and British commandants

Have decided to take, in close consultation with the Berlin authorities, the measures necessary to amend the statement of principles of 1951⁴ with a view to insuring in the future the greatest possible degree of executive, legislative, and judicial self-government in Berlin compatible with Berlin’s special situation and in accordance with its constitution of September 1, 1950.”

End verbatim text.

Parkman

1. Repeated to London, Paris, Moscow, and Washington; the source text is the copy in Department of State files.
2. Telegram 34 reported that the Germans had raised difficulties about the term “fundamental interests” which appeared in a draft of the declaration of intent. (762A.00/11–1254)
3. Telegram 342 reported on various discussions of the draft declaration of intent and transmitted a revised text that would avoid the difficulties that were being caused by the term “fundamental interests”. (662A.00/11–1254)
4. For documentation on the revised statement of principles for Berlin, see Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. iii, Part 2, pp. 1828 ff.