396.1–GE/4–2154: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen) to the Department of State
niact
1289. Repeated information niact London 207, Paris niact 276, Geneva niact unnumbered. Following is translation text of note received this morning in reply to our note of April 141 on interpretation Berlin agreement:
“Number 23/OSA. In connection with note of Government of USA of April 14 Government of USSR considers it necessary to state following:
Aide-mémoire of Ministry of Foreign Affairs USSR of April 5 in which reference is made to note of Government USA in connection [Page 127] with question of composition of participants of forthcoming conference in Geneva, is in full accordance with communiqué of Berlin conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of USA, England, France and USSR.
Assertion in above-mentioned note of Government USA alleging that at Berlin conference agreement was reached concerning special responsibilities of four powers in connection with calling of conference in Geneva does not have any basis since, as is known, at Berlin conference there was no other agreement on question of calling conference in Geneva except that announced in joint communiqué on Berlin conference. Above-mentioned communiqué does not envisage any limitation or concession of any special rights to individual participants in conference. Only distinction between participants conference, according this communiqué, is that representatives of USA, England, France, Chinese People’s Republic and Soviet Union will participate on equal basis during consideration at conference of both Korean and Indochinese questions, whereas other states will participate on basis of equality in discussion only of that question in which they are directly interested.
Therefore, statement in note of Government US about special responsibility of four powers in relation to conference in Geneva is arbitrary interpretation of communiqué of Berlin conference and is in contradiction with spirit and letter this communiqué.
In connection with communiqué of Berlin conference, representatives of five powers mentioned above should participate on equal basis in examining all questions pertaining to conference.”
British and French Embassies state similar notes received by them this morning.