Office of the Historian

284. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany0

Washington, February 9, 1960, 7:54 p.m.

1713. Paris for USCINCEUR, Thurston, Finn and USRO. Deptel to Bonn 1683.1 Dept (Kohler) informed today by UK Embassy (Hood) of UK views. Hood reports these views also transmitted by UK FonOff to Steel.2

UK does not agree US position. While understanding of political point, consider that problem merely one of “tidying up”. Not sure this was meant by Sovs as political test case. Sovs have after all put us on notice that expression “Sov Zone of Germany” inadmissible. [5-1/2 lines of source text not declassified] Accordingly US requested reconsider. UK would propose we make oral démarche at military level inquiring purpose new pass. If answer unsatisfactory, then we make written statement at military level saying our acceptance pass in no way changes our position as concerns GDR.

Kohler said we still waiting for French views3 and we would consider UK views but warned we likely come back strongly against UK proposed course action. Danger wrong political judgment in dealing with Sovs was greater danger than possible loss mission. Soviet tactics and careful examination new pass in original languages made clear Sov move purposeful and acceptance likely be cited as precedent to serious injury West position Summit negotiations.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/2–960. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Vigderman and approved by Kohler. Also sent priority to Berlin and USAREUR Heidelberg and repeated to Paris, London, and Moscow.↩
  2. Document 283.↩
  3. A memorandum of Ashler’s conversation with Hood is in Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/2–960. At the same time that Hood was giving Kohler the British view, the Foreign Office called in an official from the Embassy in London and explained the British position. (Telegram 3933 from London, February 9; ibid.)↩
  4. On February 10, Lebel informed Kohler that the French were in complete agreement with the U.S. position and that the Foreign Ministry had instructed the French Ambassador in Bonn to assist in obtaining British concurrence. (Memorandum of conversation, February 10; ibid., 762.0021/2–1060)↩