88. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, January 23, 19571
SUBJECT
- Proposed Four-Power Working Group
PARTICIPANTS
- The Secretary of State
- The German Ambassador, Dr. Heinz L. Krekeler
- Mr. C. Burke Elbrick, EUR
- Mr. J.J. Reinstein, GER
During a call on the Secretary, Ambassador Krekeler referred to a suggestion which had been made for establishing a four-power working group on European security and disarmament. He said that his Government was very much interested in this suggestion.
The Secretary said that he had received such a suggestion from M. Pineau on the occasion of his visit to Washington,2 and believed [Page 191] it had been raised even earlier. He said that he was sympathetic to the suggestion but thought it would be necessary to be careful regarding the terms of reference of the working group. Unless the terms of reference were carefully defined, the establishment of the working group might cause trouble. He said that the Italian Ambassador had called on him and was extremely disturbed by the suggestion.3 The Ambassador had asked why the task had not been entrusted to NATO and wanted to know whether the four powers intended to set up an executive council to the exclusion of other NATO members.
The Secretary said that he had told the Ambassador that there was no reason for concern and that policy decisions affecting or of interest to NATO would be taken up in NATO as previously. The suggestion of a working group was not designed to exclude other NATO countries. The problem involved was that of the reunification of Germany. This was a matter of four-power responsibility. It directly affected the Germans and was of concern to the US, UK, and France, which have a special position with regard to Germany which is recognized by the London and Paris agreements. The Secretary said that the Italian Ambassador appeared to accept this position.
The Secretary said that he thought that the terms of reference for the working group should be directed toward the question of reunification. If they were broadened to include European security, a number of countries would be interested. The Secretary said that he realized the problems were related. Achieving reunification would probably depend on reaching an agreement on European security. The matter had been dealt with in that connection at the Geneva Conference where we had put forward proposals which were related to German reunification.
The Secretary said he doubted that we would make much progress on the question of German reunification until the situation in the satellite area reached a more clearly defined status. He thought that the USSR would not be happy to see a projection of the Federal Republic into Eastern Europe. As the satellites become more independent, the chances of reunification will grow.
The Secretary said that it would be necessary to determine where the working group should meet and what the level of representation should be. The Ambassador asked whether there was any suggestion as to the place of meeting. Mr. Elbrick said that it had been suggested that the meeting be held in Washington. The Secretary said he would not exclude Paris as a possibility. However, this might involve a complication with regard to relations with NATO. He thought the meeting should be held either in Washington or [Page 192] Paris, rather than New York, London or Bonn. Ambassador Krekeler said he had reported the suggestion that it would be in Washington or Paris and that there had been no objection on the part of his Government.
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot o4 D 199. Secret. Drafted by Reinstein.↩
- Regarding French Foreign Minister Pineau’s visit to the United States, January 9–11, see vol. XXVII, p. 96. Secretary Dulles also discussed this proposal with the British Ambassador on January 17. A memorandum of their conversation is in Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199.↩
- A memorandum of this conversation is ibid., Central Files, 762.00/1–2257.↩