Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Germany and Austria, Volume II

740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–2448: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

top secret   us urgent
niact

Washington, August 24, 1948—11 p. m.

1008.¹ For the Ambassador. It is clear that Stalin’s language with respect to Western Germany is open to misinterpretation and therefore as you warned Stalin unacceptable. We agree with Bevin’s position as set forth in London’s 3828 repeated to you as 227.² The language suggested in your 1716³ would be acceptable with the following modifications to indicate that we do not refuse to discuss this point at some subsequent time but are not prepared to make any commitments whatsoever as to postponement. This must be made clear to the Soviets.

“During the conversations the Soviet Govt expressed its wish that the implementation of the decisions of the London conference should not result in the establishment of a govt for Western Germany before the representatives of the Four Powers had been able to meet to discuss the whole German problem. The representatives of the US, UK and France affirmed the desire of their govts for a four power agreement whereby a govt for the whole of Germany would be established. They explained that the London decisions did not preclude such an agreement and, while they were not able to agree to any postponement of the implementation of the London decisions, they would make a sincere endeavor to ascertain whether there is a real prospect of agreement among the four powers. Further discussion of this point was accordingly deferred.”⁴

Marshall

1. Repeated to London as 3363, Paris as 3293, and Berlin as 1515.
2. Not printed. For a description of the instructions sent to Roberts at this time, see Cmd. 7534, p. 39.
3. August 23, p. 1061.
4. In telegram 1009, August 25, to Moscow, not printed, the Department told Smith that agreement had been reached with the British and French on the necessity for a written reservation of the Western rights in Berlin and a statement on the West German Government. Smith was authorized to work out the final text of the Directive and the Communiqué with his colleagues in Moscow. (740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–2548)