Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Central and Southeastern Europe, Volume XXVI

207. Telegram From the Mission in Berlin to the Embassy in Germany¹

Berlin, September 21, 1957—2 p.m.

294. Ref: Berlin to Bonn 293 repeated Department 322.² Subject: Berlin access.

1. First subject discussed during meeting late yesterday of political advisers with Kotsiuba was documentation of Allied travelers. French chairman political adviser began by reading agreed statement text of which contained Embtel to Berlin 96 rptd Dept 691,³ after which sample forms and stamps handed Kotsiuba. Latter expressed his thanks for statement but said he could not agree with everything in it. If he had understood intent of statement, however, question under discussion with him for a number of months now seemed ripe for settlement. As he had stated before, his aim in raising question was to find new and simple procedure to facilitate clearance of Allied nationals on Autobahn and railroad and to avoid incidents in future of kind which had been common prior to last meeting with him of political advisers July 11.⁴ Kotsiuba added that he could not agree with any implication that substantial changes in control system were involved or that Soviets were infringing on Allied rights of movement between Berlin and West Germany. It was now high time, he went on, to bring order into question of control at checkpoints. He considered it superfluous on part of political advisers to emphasize that Ambassadors, Commanders in Chief and Commandants would determine necessity of travel by their nationals, since this question was not raised and this right was not questioned. However, documentation procedures must be settled quickly.

2. After rather cursory examination of sample documents, Kotsiuba said he had no particular remarks to make or objections to raise in principle but that he would like to obtain clarification of certain points. He noted that he had previously understood that officials under whose authority travel orders being issued would not themselves need to sign documents but could delegate this function in each case to two other persons. Political advisers replied that sample signatures which would be provided would be of officials whose signature would actually appear on documents. Kotsiuba then added that travelers would of course also supply identity cards or passports to show they were actually persons covered by travel documents.

3. French political adviser raised point re possibility in certain cases of Commandants also issuing travel orders with Komandirovka stamp on rear. After explanation, Kotsiuba agreed no objection to this practice.

4. Kotsiuba requested that five samples of each of final forms of documentation be given to him when they were ready for distribution to control officers, and later supplemented this with request that sample signatures appear on single copy of each type of movement order.

5. Kotsiuba made somewhat enigmatic statement, after once again glancing at form of stamp to appear on rear of travel order, that he did not accept any responsibility for political implications of these documents which had been prepared by Allies. In response to subsequent query as to what he meant by this, he stated that his remark concealed no ulterior motives and simply meant that while the proposed documents seemed satisfactory in principle they would have been somewhat differently drafted if he had prepared them. For example, he would not have used the expression “in connection with occupation of Berlin” (this was presumably reference to alleged restoration of sovereignty to GDR of which East Berlin capital).

6. Kotsiuba urged that new documents be introduced as quickly as possible and suggested October 5 as date. He was informed that no commitment could be made as to any specific date when Allies might be ready to use new forms in view of difficulties of coordination and reproduction of forms. After stating that new forms did not have to be introduced simultaneously by all three countries, he gave up effort to obtain commitment re specific date for their introduction.

7. In response to statement by British political adviser that he assumed under new system it would no longer be necessary to bother with stamps in passports, Kotsiuba said this was correct.

8. Political advisers will meet on Monday to agree on tripartite minute of meeting and on recommendations for action now to be taken.⁵

Gufler

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/9–2157. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to London, Moscow, Paris, and Washington. The source text is the Department of State copy.
2. Supra.
3. Not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/9–2157) This statement was virtually the same as that transmitted in telegram 182, Document 205.
4. See Document 203.
5. The agreed tripartite minute was transmitted in telegram 332 from Berlin, September 24. (Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/9–2457)