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

408. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

US/MC/110

Geneva, June 19, 1959, 2:45 p.m.

MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS PALAIS DES NATIONS, GENEVA, 1959

PARTICIPANTS

• U.S.
  • The Secretary
  • Mr. Merchant
  • Ambassador Thompson
  • Mr. Berding
  • Mr. Freers
• France
  • M. Couve de Murville
  • M. Lucet
  • M. Laloy
  • M. Baraduc
  • M. Beaumarchais
• U.K.
  • Mr. Lloyd
  • Sir Anthony Rumbold
  • Mr. Hancock
  • Mr. Hope
• Federal Republic
  • Dr. Von Brentano
  • Ambassador Grewe
  • Mr. Duckwitz
  • Mr. von Eckhardt
  • Mr. Koesterer

SUBJECT

• Discussion of June 19 Soviet Proposals and Western Statement

The Ministers discussed the proposals just presented by Gromyko at the private meeting at his Villa.¹ All agreed that they should be considered together with Khrushchev’s speech,² the first part of which had just come over the ticker.

Lloyd said he thought it would not be wise to take definite action on the basis of a fragmentary report of the speech. He said also that the extension of the time limit on negotiations to a year and a half would be considered a Soviet concession by much of world opinion, and particularly the population in Britain.

The other Ministers all pointed out that the main element in these proposals remained the same as before, that our rights in West Berlin would be eliminated either at the end of the period or sometime during the period. It was a clever paper.

Lloyd agreed that it was time for a recess.

A short discussion on the various unacceptable aspects ensued. This involved the all-German Committee (and on a parity basis); the discussion of a peace treaty by the Germans instead of by the Four Powers; the difference in status at the end of the time limit envisaged by each side; and the absence of reciprocity with regard to subversive activities in Berlin.

Lloyd thought we ought to point out that the Soviets had called our proposal absolutely groundless and unacceptable and throw this charge back at them with regard to theirs.

Ambassador Thompson suggested we propose signature of a peace treaty with West Germany as a counter to their call for a separate peace treaty for the GDR. Lloyd remarked that this had already been done in a sense in the Paris agreement.

The Ministers decided to draft a statement which would give the Western attitude with regard to the Soviet proposals and include provision for a recess.

Mr. Merchant submitted a draft which was discussed and revised by the Ministers. (The final text appears in the memorandum on the private meeting at Gromyko’s Villa.)

It was agreed that this paper would be read by Mr. Herter on resumption of the afternoon session with Mr. Gromyko.

The Ministers then proceeded to Gromyko’s Villa. They returned at 6:45 p.m. following this session.

Lloyd suggested we should all say to our own peoples that we had said that we wanted negotiations with the Russians; that we had realized that negotiations with them were long and difficult; and that we were ready to go on to seek some agreement. Gromyko had said nothing about a Summit Meeting. If questioned by the press, we ought to say that what has happened here neither makes a Summit Meeting harder nor easier.

The Ministers agreed that the Western paper just read to Gromyko³ should be released at 7:30 this evening whether or not the Soviet proposals had been made public by then.

Lloyd suggested that when the deputies meet tomorrow to draft a joint communiqué with the Russians, we should avoid having just platitudes. There should be some statement about the Ministers regretting that agreement was not reached—since this would strike a responsive chord with public opinion.

Mr. Herter told Dr. Von Brentano that he would not be going to Berlin as he had considered doing. It was better not to do so, now that a recess had been agreed upon.

Couve invited the other Ministers to meet with him at lunch on July 13 preceding the scheduled afternoon meeting to reopen the conference.

At the suggestion of the other Ministers, Couve agreed to report on the conference to NATO next Monday.

Von Brentano said he thought the Four Ministers should do something between now and July 13 in order to prepare for the resumed negotiations. Couve thought the deputies might meet on Saturday, July 11. Mr. Herter said that there would be much to do through diplomatic channels. Lloyd thought a working group might be needed. Nothing was decided.

0. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1340. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Freers. The meeting was held at the French Villa.
1. See Document 407.
2. See footnote 2, Document 407.
3. See Document 407.