Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

The OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 June 20, 1952 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 7-29-85 By DEB NLT, Date SECRET SECURITY INFORMA TION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS SOVIET NOTE The French and British Ambassadors called on Secretary Acheson yesterday afternoon to discuss a reply to the latest Soviet note on Germany. Ambassador Bonnet summarized the pro- gression in the French position but emphasized that his government con- tinues to insist that the proposal for a four -power meeting must include the question of elections and the interim status of/all-German government and not be confined to the composition and functions of a commission of investigation as proposed in the last US draft. However, the French are now willing to accept a British proposal that the offer to discuss an all- German government be made conditional upon prior four-power agreement in discussions concerning elections. Ambassador Franks noted that the French and British positions had moved toward agreement and inquired as to the present US position. Secretary Acheson stated that the issue was one of the very greatest importance and not one of a mere preference for language. If a note were sent as proposed by the French and British we would be committed to a meeting involving discussion of the interim status of an all-German government and this would undermine Chancellor Adenauer and sabotage his plans for ratification of the contractual agreements and the EDC treaty. This was not merely our estimate of the German situation but was also the emphatic statement of Adenauer, who is the best judge of German opinion. The Secretary pointed out that our immediate problem is to aid Adenauer to secure ratifica tion and after that we can take care of public opinion problems in France and other countries which will confront parliamentary action later. He stressed the importance of timing and emphasized that under the US proposal there could be meetings with the Soviets but only at a later time. Both Ambassadors said they would report fully although Bonnet indicated he had no hope his government could agree. It was under- - stood that a further tripartite meeting would take place when the two Em- - bassies had received further instructions. Secretary Acheson's suggestion that the matter might have to be discussed by the three Foreign Ministers in London evoked from both Bonnet and Franks the hope that agreement could be reached in Washington. SECRET SECURITY INF ORMA TION