Office of the Historian

297. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission in Berlin1

Washington, August 18, 1971, 1914Z.

151368. 1. I understand that the four Ambassadors might agree to comprehensive formulations for eventual Berlin agreement tonight.

2. I have concluded that an ad referendum agreement should not be reached at the present time, and that before such stage is reached we will need to make thorough review of results of last 48 hours’ meetings and possibly have consultations with you in Washington.

3. You should therefore inform the other three Ambassadors formally by the close of tonight’s session that you feel the negotiations have reached a point where the Ambassadors should pause for consideration in capitals, following which further negotiations can be expected.

Rogers
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 28 GER B. Secret; Nodis; Flash. Strictly Eyes Only for Ambassador Rush from the Secretary. Drafted by Brower; cleared by Skoug, Fessenden, and Irwin; and approved by Rogers. An information copy was flashed to the White House for Kissinger in San Clemente. According to his Record of Schedule, Kissinger left the White House for San Clemente on August 18 at 1:12 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 439, Miscellany) For background on the decision to send the telegram, see Documents 298 and 316.↩