840.00/12–349: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
priority
4351. Dept concurs position outlined para 2, urtel 4811, Dec 2 (rptd Paris 952, Frankfort 193, Brussels 236, Luxembourg 191). More explicitly we have recently advised Berlin and Frankfort of our position that (1) HICOM shld seek to deal only with Sov control authorities in matters pertaining to Sov controlled areas, avoiding any action which might be construed as implying acceptance of claims of Ger Dem Rep to be legal govt of any part of Ger; (2) any necessary relations between HICOM and GDR officials shld be conducted indirectly (through reps Ger Fed Rep or Sov authorities for example); however, officials and agencies of Fed Rep shld be authorized engage in negots with corresponding reps GDR only at technical levels where de facto or de jure recognition not in question.
Concerning possible future trade negots between Benelux and GDR, (para 3 reftel) Dept recognizes that such negots will probably prove necessary and presumedly will take place on technical level. Dept feels, however, it shld be made clear in all cases by countries involved that conclusion of such agreements does not imply even de facto recognition GDR.
Whether possible handle protection matters on same basis not clear. No test case involving U.S. has yet arisen. However, since ultimate authority in East Ger is Sov Control Comm Dept recommends such matters he taken up initially with Sov officials rather than with GDR puppets.
- Not printed; in it Holmes reported that he had been invited to meet with the permanent Commission of the Brussels Treaty powers in London on December 8, when the problem of their relations with the “German Democratic Republic” would be discussed. Holmes indicated that he would emphasize the intention of the United States to adhere to the policy of non-recognition and that he would stress the “… desirability of Brussels Powers adopting similar attitude.” (840.00/12–249)↩