C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2161: CFM(D) (47) (G) Documents

Report by the Deputies for Germany to the Council of Foreign Ministers 73

secret
CFM(D) (47) (G)69(Revised)

Procedure for the Preparation of the Draft Treaty

report by the deputies to the council of foreign ministers in compliance with section iv(b) of the council’s instruction of 12th december, 194674

In accordance with the instructions of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and France, dated 12th December, 1946, to consider questions of procedure with regard to the preparation of a Peace Treaty for Germany, the Deputies for Germany, at their meetings held in London from 14th January to 25th February, 1947, discussed the proposals of individual Delegations.

The following proposals were submitted by the several Delegations during the course of the discussion.

1.
Proposal by the Soviet Delegation on the procedure for the preparation of the Peace Treaty with Germany of 25th January, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)22).75 Annex I.
2.
Proposal by the French Delegation “Draft Procedure” of 31st [30th] January, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)38.76 Annex II.
3.
Proposal by the U.S. Delegation “Procedure” of 10th February, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)53).77 Annex III.
4.
Proposal by the U.K. Delegation “Procedure for the preparation of the Peace Treaty with Germany” of 12th February, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)55).78 Annex IV.
5.
Proposal by the Soviet Delegation, Part II, “Consultation of the Council of Foreign Ministers with the Allied Governments and the informing of the latter on the questions of the preparation of the Peace Treaty with Germany” of 12th February, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G) 56).79 Annex V.
6.
Proposal by the French Delegation of 21st February, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)68).80 Annex VI (1).

At their meeting on February 22nd, 1947, the Deputies adopted, and submit to the Ministers herewith, a report by the Committee of Experts, agreed to the extent outlined in C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)65 Revised.81 Annex VII (2).

The Deputies failed to work out the procedure for consultation of the Allied Governments and to agree to the second part of the document.

In these circumstances, the Deputies for Germany submit to the Ministers for consideration the proposals of the Delegations for the second part of the procedure.

During the hearing of the views of the Allied Governments in compliance with Section IV (a) of the Ministers’ Instructions, certain Allied Governments made proposals regarding procedure, the full texts of which are set out in the memoranda annexed to the “Report of the Deputies for Germany to the Council of Foreign Ministers” of 25th February, 1947, (C.F.M.(D) (47) (G)70).82 A list of the documents in which such recommendations appear, together with references to the relevant passages, is attached as Annex VIII.83

(signed) (signed) (signed) (signed)

(1)
Note by the French Delegation: The French Delegation expressed its views on procedure in the draft tabled on January 31st (Annex II). In a second draft of February 21st (Annex VI), it endeavoured to define a basis for an agreement, taking into account the views of the other Delegations. No agreement having been reached, the French [Page 107] Delegation annexes to the present report these two documents, while indicating that the first draft alone is the expression of its views on the whole question.
(2)
Note by the U.K. and U.S. Delegations: The U.K. and U.S. Delegations, in accepting the report by the Committee of Experts referred to, made the reservation that their acceptance was subject to an agreement being reached on both parts of the document.
  1. At their 30th and final meeting in London, the Deputies for Germany considered the report by the Drafting Committee and, after an exchange of views, agreed to accept it in the amended form printed here. For an account on the origin of this document, see telegram 1305, Delsec 1282, February 26, from London, infra.

    The documents included as annexes to the source text have been, with one exception, included elsewhere in this chapter in their appropriate chronological order and are not reproduced here.

    There are no signatures on the source text.

  2. The instructions of the Council referred to here were included in document CFM(46) (NY)74, December 12, 1946, Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. ii, p. 1557.
  3. See CFM(D) (47) (G)22(Revised), January 28, 1947, p. 15.
  4. Ante, p. 17.
  5. Ante, p. 24.
  6. Ante, p. 28.
  7. Ante, p. 30.
  8. Ante, p. 32.
  9. Ante, p. 34.
  10. The Report under reference here excluding annexed memoranda is printed supra (p. 40).
  11. Not printed.