410. Memorandum of Conversation Between Secretary of State Herter and Foreign Secretary Lloyd0
Selwyn raised the question of where we stood on the conference. I told him that as long as a time limit was placed on us either with respect to occupation troops in Berlin or possible studies by some all-German committee, we could not reach agreement. However, I said I would be discussing in Washington the possibility of a time limit of at least 2-1/2 years (which would carry the period beyond the German domestic elections) provided it were coupled with a clear-cut statement that a Foreign Ministers conference scheduled at the end of that time could discuss further possible arrangements without prejudice to the presently existing and continuing rights. Selwyn told me that he had talked to both Von Brentano and Couve de Murville at lunch time and that they were in agreement that in place of an all-German Committee we could properly advance a Big Four Committee with German advisers, the Big Four Committee having authority to request or instruct the German advisers to study between themselves (a) the bettering of interchanges between the two Germanys, (b) principles of a peace treaty, and (c) the reunification of Germany, bringing their conclusions to the representatives of the Big Four, still as advisers. I said I would give that suggestion considerable thought as it coincided very closely with my own feeling that this would be a desirable provision from the Allied side.
[Page 931]I mentioned to Selwyn that the British press had been saying a great deal about the possibility of a Western Summit meeting. I asked Selwyn whether he had discussed this matter with Macmillan and he said that he had not. He added, however, that he personally felt that it would be a great mistake to hold such a meeting before our coming talks in Geneva since it would be regarded by the world as a panicky reaction and a sign of weakness rather than strength. He then repeated his personal satisfaction that we had been able to maintain such an effective united front in Geneva.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1340. Secret. Drafted by Herter. The meeting was held at Villa Greta. A memorandum of another conversation that took place at the same time as this one and the one in Document 411, describing a conversation on nuclear test suspensions, US/MC/111, is ibid.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩