Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969–1972

327. Telegram From the Mission in Berlin to the Department of State¹

Berlin, September 3, 1971, 1740Z.

1810. Subject: Berlin Talks: 34th Ambassadorial Session, September 3, 1971.

1. The Berlin quadripartite agreement, a cliffhanger to the last, was signed at 1303 hours local on September 3, 1971, in the main conference room of the ACA building.² Ambassador Rush received medical clearance to participate at 1000 hours. At 1030 hours the East Germans conceded on the word “Bindungen” and at 1100 hours on a compromise formula for “constituent part,” thus resolving the last remaining questions on an agreed German translation.

2. Prior to the signing of the quadripartite agreement, which was carried live by radio and TV, a private ceremony was held in the ACA building’s small conference room, at which time the related notes and agreed minutes were initialed. Ambassador Sauvagnargues, as chairman of the 34th Ambassadorial session, opened the private ceremony by expressing his and his colleagues’ regrets over Ambassador Rush’s indisposition. After summarizing the purpose of the private ceremony, Ambassador Sauvagnargues made the following oral statement: “Concerning the authenticity of the French, English, and Russian texts of the quadripartite agreement, my colleagues and I proceed from the premise that all parts of the Russian language text of the quadripartite agreement are identical in meaning and substance with the French and English texts.

I will appreciate receiving confirmation of this point from Ambassador Abrasimov.”

3. Abrasimov replied that, as he had been informed by his colleagues, the text in the English and French languages conform in form and substance to the Russian language text. Abrasimov then expressed his concern about Ambassador Rush’s health and wished him a speedy recovery.

4. The formal signing of the quadripartite agreement then took place, followed by champagne and lunch, hosted by Ambassador Sauvagnargues, in the ACA building. (Conversation at lunch reported septel.)³

Klein

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 28 GER B. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated to Bonn, London, Paris, and Moscow, and USNATO.
2. The Mission first flashed the news that the agreement had been signed in telegram 1802 from Berlin, September 3, 1230Z. (Ibid.) For text of the agreement, including annexes and associated official correspondence, see Documents on Germany, 1944–1985, pp. 1135–1148.
3. Telegram 1808 from Berlin, September 3. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 28 GER B)