210. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussion at the Department of State–Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Pentagon, Washington, November 1, 1957, 11:30 a.m.1
[Here follow a list of persons present and discussion of items 1–4.]
5. Berlin
General Taylor inquired whether in light of current reports from Berlin the Department’s feeling about the situation there had changed in any respect. He pointed out that the Russians and the East Germans have a continuing capability seriously to embarrass us in our access to Berlin.
Mr. Murphy replied that we had noted no basic change. The Department has not been aware of any indications that the USSR was prepared to create a new crisis in Berlin. Although there was an increased aggressiveness on the part of East Germans, the general [Page 512] policy regarding Berlin is well established and the maintenance of a Western position in Berlin represents a sine qua non of that policy. Technically and legally we insist upon Soviet responsibility there.
General Taylor noted that the U.S. Army has had problems with its convoys involving the East Germans as well as the Russians and pointed out that the loss of a Western position in Berlin to the East Germans would be extremely serious.
Mr. Murphy suggested that the Department submit a paper reflecting our current views on the situation in Berlin for the information of the Chiefs, following which further discussion of this matter might be in order.
[Here follows discussion of the remaining items.]
- Source: Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417, Meeting 142. Top Secret. Typewritten notations on the source text indicate that it was drafted by Anschuetz, but was not cleared with any of the participants.↩