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

76. Memorandum of Conversation Between President Eisenhower and Secretary of State Herter⁰

Washington, February 8, 1960, 10 a.m.

SUBJECT

• Summit Preparations—Germany including Berlin

I showed the President the paper setting forth the six principles to govern the allied position in connection with Berlin which has been tabled by the French¹ as having been agreed to during the meeting of the three Western Heads of Government in Paris in December. I told the President that our own records of the tripartite meeting,² as well as the records of General De Gaulle’s summary thereof at the following day’s meeting,³ did not indicate as rigid a position as the attached memorandum would warrant. The President told me he thought he had made it clear that the United States would not give up its rights or be forced to give up its rights, or volunteer to give up its rights, unless arrangements were made that all parties concerned felt would give greater strength to the position of Berlin over a period of years than is the case with the present situation.

He then discussed at some length his worries about the possibility of a slow strangulation of West Berlin through acts of the GDR which would not necessarily be in contravention of our agreements with the Soviets. Accordingly, he felt perhaps a more solid arrangement assuring the economic access of Western Berlin to the West might possibly be worked out. He likewise asked that he be given a condensed briefing paper on the juridical position of Berlin with particular application to civilian rather than military access to the West.⁴

I told him I did not feel we were in a position to recommend to him any specific proposals at this time, but that before the visit of Chancellor Adenauer we might have recommendations as to what it would be most advantageous for him to discuss with the Chancellor in this field.

C.A.H.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–PA/2–860. Secret. Drafted by Krebs. The conversation took place at the White House.
1. Not printed. Designated II WWG/5.3, this paper provided for the maintenance of the Allied juridical position in Berlin, Western military forces in the city, Allied responsibilities with regard to reunification, existing links between Berlin and the Federal Republic, freedom of communication with the city, and that any agreement on Berlin could not be denounced except by mutual consent.
2. See Document 57.
3. See Document 60.
4. A1-1/2-page paper responding to this request was transmitted to the President on February 19 by Secretary Herter. (Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/2–1160)