Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Berlin Crisis, 1959–1960; Germany; Austria, Volume IX

290. Telegram From the Mission at Berlin to the Department of State ⁰

Berlin, March 14, 1960, noon.

729. Ref Bonn’s 1751 to Dept rptd Berlin 609.¹ Serb informed USMLM 12 noon March 14 that Lt. Gen. Vorontsov, Chief of Staff, GSFG, desired meeting 1800 hours March 14 at Potsdam. USMLM insisted any trip must be made without use of pass and was assured Deputy Serb would meet him at Glienicke Bridge and take him through without any formality. French MLM and Chief BRIXMIS also invited.

Meeting took place as scheduled with Chiefs USMLM, FMLM and BRIXMIS present.²

Lt. Gen. Vorontsov referred to Allied Commander-in-Chief’s letters regarding new passes noting that Marshal Zakharov had referred this matter to his government in Moscow. In light of upcoming conference and to maintain good atmosphere, Group Soviet Forces Germany was instructed to reinstitute old passes as temporary measure pending solution at summit conference of over-all problems. Vorontsov then asked whether this was clear. When Western MLM’s replied affirmatively, Chief Serb interrupted to state that an officer from the Missions should come to Serb at 9:00 March 15 to turn in the new passes and pick up old passes.

After the meeting Chief Serb reissued old passes to three Mission Chiefs and officers accompanying them. Old passes have been validated in ink in handwriting of Col. Kozlovskyi on page 4 as follows:

“Credentials validated. Col. Kozlovskyi 14 March 60.”

Normal purple ink stamp has been superimposed on left of handwriting.

Chief USMLM plans to resume operations immediately following issuance of old passes.

Radio now carrying ADN (East German news agency) report stating in essence that Vorontsov had conveyed reply to Feb 19 Western note on passes which provided for continuation use of “old passes” for present (bis auf weiteres).³

Lightner

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.0221/3–1460. Confidential; Niact. Also sent priority to Bonn and repeated to Moscow, London, Paris, and POLAD USAREUR.
1. Dated March 11, telegram 1751 from Bonn reported that the Chief of the Soviet Liaison Mission had informed the British that Zakharov would reply soon to the Western letters of protest dated February 19. (Ibid., 762.0221/3–1160)
2. A more detailed account of the meeting was transmitted in airgram G-298 from Berlin, March 15. (Ibid., 762.0221/3–1560)
3. Following Soviet reissue of the old passes, the three Western Powers on March 15 lifted the restrictions on the movement of the Soviet Missions. (Telegram 1771 from Bonn, March 15; ibid.)