Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Berlin Crisis, 1958–1959, Volume VIII

290. Record of Delegation Meeting⁰

Geneva, May 11, 1959, 10 a.m.

FULL DELEGATION MEETING

The Secretary opened the meeting by thanking all of the delegation for their efforts in preparing for the conference. He said he hoped to hold a number of similar meetings during the conference. In the meeting today he wished to bring the U.S. delegation up to date on recent developments in the “battle of the square vs. round table,” which, he said, has serious overtones. Yesterday, the Western Foreign Ministers met in the afternoon¹ and concluded that the shape of the table was not in itself important but who sat at it was. He noted that the Soviets expect the Germans to sit at the table and to be full participants. The Secretary recalled that in the Western note to the Soviets we had suggested (and it had been agreed) that the Germans would be invited to attend and would be consulted.² The Secretary continued that the West has no intention of permitting the Germans to sit at the table. Yesterday, Selwyn Lloyd had been asked to convey the West’s views to Gromyko. Lloyd reported that during his meeting with Gromyko at 5:00 p.m. yesterday the Russians had insisted on full participation by the Germans and their right to talk when they wished. In the matter of the shape of the table, the Russians seem disposed to compromise and would agree to a semi-circular table with tables at each end for the East and West Germans.³

The Secretary said that we opposed discussing procedural agreements with the Russians prior to the opening of the conference, preferring to discuss them officially in the Council Chamber. He concluded by saying that we will stand firm in our opposition to having the Germans as full participants; the West is agreed that the Germans will speak only when agreeable to all four Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Gibson commented that recognizing the Germans to speak would likely be a serious sticking point. The Secretary noted that in distinction to the 1955 conference in which the order of speakers rotated according to a set pattern, the chair, during the current meeting, will recognize speakers as it sees fit. This, it is hoped, will make the meetings more informal and enhance the possibility of fruitful negotiations.

Mr. Merchant noted that it is very likely that the Soviet delegates would approach members of the U.S. delegation offering invitations to social engagements. He suggested that all such invitations be coordinated by Mr. Reinhardt and that memoranda of conversation be written on all remarks by the Russians except pleasantries. The Secretary said he thought it desirable not to discourage contracts with the Russians. He hoped there would be full reporting on all contacts with the Russians.

The Secretary concluded the meeting by saying that we are not optimistic about the outcome of the conference. However, we will probe Soviet intentions and try hard to find areas where agreement might be reached.

0. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1345. Confidential. Drafted by Alan G. James of the Executive Secretariat. The meeting was held in Conference Room 209 at the Consulate General Annex.
1. See Document 289.
2. See Documents 176 and 244.
3. At 10 p.m. on May 9 Rumbold briefed members of the U.S. Delegation on the meeting between Lloyd and Gromyko. A memorandum of this conversation, US/MC/1, is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1338.