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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Austrian State Treaty; Summit and Foreign Ministers Meetings, 1955, Volume V
  4. Document 240

240. Telegram From the Delegation at the Geneva Conference to the Department of State 1

Geneva , July 23, 1955—5 a.m.

Secto 68. No progress made resumption Foreign Ministers meeting 10:30 p.m.

Secretary again summarized outstanding issues in following terms:

“There is, first, the question of the order in which we specify the subject of Germany and the subject of European security. Secondly, there is the question as to whether, in dealing with the matter of German unity we make a specific reference to participation by the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, [Page 486] or whether we leave that to be covered by general language whereby the Foreign Ministers are authorized to organize their work with appropriate participation by other interested countries. In relation to disarmament, there is a question as to whether in the preamble there should be a specific reference to prohibition of atomic and hydrogen weapons. There is a question whether the disarmament task should be referred to the Foreign Ministers, or whether it should be referred directly to our representatives in the United Nations. And there is a question whether we should request the Disarmament Subcommittee to give priority of a special urgency to problems of inspection.”

Pinay and Macmillan agreed and Molotov had nothing to add previous statements. Secretary argued for concurrent consideration German reunification and European security and against interposition Foreign Ministers as additional body between four governments and their reps in the UN. In reply Secretary’s query why Soviets felt disarmament should be handled by Foreign Ministers rather than by UN Molotov said he was not opposing Foreign Ministers against UN but former ought continue deal with disarmament which had been discussed by Heads of Government. Macmillan supported Secretary’s analysis.

There being no other speakers Secretary suggested reference outstanding points Heads of Government meeting Saturday 11:00 a.m.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–GE/7–2355. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Beam. Repeated to London, Moscow, Paris, and Bonn. The U.S. Delegation verbatim record of this session, USDEL/Verb/M–7, July 22, is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 509.↩