Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 2

762A. 00/2–2051: Telegram

The Director of the Berlin Element of HICOG (Page) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Frankfurt¹

confidential
priority

Berlin, February 20, 1951—1 p. m.

1196. West-licensed press February 18 carried report that “leading representatives of West German CDU” intend propose that Bundestag hold special session in Berlin “to take position before entire German people” on contemplated Four Power Conference and reunification Germany.²

Informal inquiries of city officials indicate they have no specific information re such meeting beyond fact that one had been proposed some time ago to be held in June (which would probably be too late now for pre-CFM meeting). It was discussed in Senate meeting February 19 but as far as can be ascertained, discussion dealt mostly with technical aspects such as transport from west and lodging here of Bundestag members and available assembly hall. Titania Palast suggested as one possibility for latter for which, they said, US permission would be needed just as US help would probably be needed to provide air transport. Suhr and Kielinger will be in Bonn this week and will presumably discuss matter there. Berlin officials obviously keen to have Bundestag meet here but as yet, at least not overly excited by it.

French PolAd told us he was opposed any Bundestag meeting Berlin as it would constitute recognition of Berlin as twelfth land. British PolAd said preliminary British reaction Berlin also against such meeting here, not because of twelfth land but because it might well cause difficulties which could not be outweighed by benefits. We inclined to agree with latter view to extent we believe latter is probability that meeting could not be held without Allied, especially US, help in providing transport and perhaps meeting hall).

We urge, and British and French PolAds are of same opinion, that if HICOMs are going to ban meeting here, it be done before proposal is formally introduced in Bundestag so that ban gets least possible publicity. West press February 20 carries further items re meeting speculating re choice of assembly hall and saying Bundestag CDU faction advocate holding meeting here “in near future”.³

Page

1. Repeated to Washington and Bonn. The source text is the copy in Department of State files.
2. For documentation on U.S. policy on the question of Germany unity, see pp. 1747 ff.
3. On February 22 the Bundestag Committee on all-German Affairs decided in favor of holding a Bundestag session in Berlin, but on February 27, Herbert Wehner, its chairman, told the Liaison Division in Bonn that Adenauer had approved the “idea of such meeting until CFM only on condition that situation of ‘great psychological necessity’ vis-à-vis Soviet Zone population arises.” (Telegram 570 from Bonn, February 27, G62A.62B/2–2751) On the following day PEPCO discussed the question and decided that the disadvantages of holding a Bundestag session in Berlin outweighed the advantages because of adamant French opposition, difficulties of transport, and the dangers inherent in spotlighting Berlin during a Foreign Ministers meeting. The Department of State concurred in PEPCO’s views but expressed its belief that the “idea of session may have considerable merit from propaganda standpoint and it might at some later time be useful [to] carry it out.” (Telegrams 7073 from Frankfurt, February 28, and 6085 to Frankfurt, March 8, 662A.62B/2–2851 and 3–851)