Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XX, Eastern Europe

134. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter¹

Washington, April 18, 1980

SUBJECT

• Consular Convention With the GDR

Attached at Tab B² is a letter from Cy transmitting the Consular Convention with the German Democratic Republic, which was signed at Berlin on September 4, 1979, with the recommendation that you transmit it to the Senate for ratification.

A Letter of Transmittal to the Senate is at Tab A.³ Speechwriters have cleared the text.

The signing of the Convention represents an important step in the broadening and improving of our relations with the German Democratic Republic. At present there is no bilateral consular agreement between the United States and the German Democratic Republic. The convention establishes firm obligations on such important matters as free communication between a citizen and his consul, notification of consular officers of the arrest and detention of their nationals and permission for visits by consuls to nationals who are under detention.

The Convention was worked out in close consultation with other Allied Powers and the Federal Republic of Germany. It does not affect the current legal regime in Berlin.

In the current difficulties over Afghanistan we have sought to distinguish between USSR and the Eastern Europeans and to maintain relations with the latter. This step will not only conform to that policy it will also be mildly reassuring to our allies, particularly the FRG, which is concerned that the crisis over Afghanistan will cast a pall on relations with the GDR.

RECOMMENDATION

That you sign the Letter of Transmittal at Tab A.⁴

1. Source: Carter Library, White House Central Files, Countries, CO–26, CO 54–1, 1/20/77–1/20/81. No classification marking. Sent for action. Aaron initialed the memorandum for Brzezinski. The President signed the letter on April 21, and the package was sent to the Senate on April 28.
2. Attached but not printed.
3. Attached but not printed.
4. The Senate ratified the Consular Convention on July 2. The Department of State forwarded the instrument of ratification to the White House for the President’s signature on July 15, under a covering memorandum from Tarnoff to Brzezinski. The instrument of ratification was forwarded to the President on August 6 for his signature. (Carter Library, White House Central Files, Countries, CO–26, CO 54–1, 1/20/77–1/20/81)