504. Telegram From the Delegation to the Foreign Ministers Meeting to the Department of State0

Secto 457. Moscow, London, Bonn, eyes only Ambassador. Paris eyes only Houghton and Burgess. Berlin eyes only Gufler. Private Session.

Selwyn Lloyd lunched with Gromyko today and at subsequent meeting of Western Foreign Ministers reported that there has been little discussion of substance other than a short exchange on the subject of rights. Gromyko had floated a suggestion that agreement might be reached on language which read “these arrangements with respect to Berlin do not deal with rights” but he did not press this proposal when Lloyd replied negatively.

Lloyd then handed Gromyko the following text of draft communiqué which had been agreed by Western Foreign Ministers: “The Foreign Ministers of the French Republic, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America met in Geneva from May 11 to June 20 and from July 13 to August 5, 1959, to consider questions relating to Germany, including a peace treaty with Germany and the question of Berlin. They endeavored to narrow the differences between the respective points of view on these questions but despite frank and comprehensive discussions were unable to reach an agreement.

“The Foreign Ministers have therefore agreed to report the result of their discussions to their respective heads of government and to recommend that the date and place for the resumption of the discussions should be settled through diplomatic channels.”

Gromyko did not take particular exception to the draft but said he would prefer a longer document. Lloyd had replied that it was too late to try to work out a long document and that it was better to fully agree on something brief.

Lloyd suggested that the final plenary could be held Wednesday morning, thus allowing time for it to run over into the afternoon if necessary. Gromyko did not take exception but said he would like to think it over. Asked if he wanted a private meeting tomorrow, Gromyko showed no particular interest but said he would be glad to come to lunch if invited. Western Foreign Ministers agreed to lunch with Gromyko at Lloyd’s house. It is expected that the conversation will deal principally with the problem of the communiqué.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–GE/8–359. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Moscow, Bonn, Berlin, London, and Paris.