Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

the OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED 10. 12065, Sec. 3-402 June 18, 1952 s opt. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 5-24-87 L DEB NLT, Date SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS GERMANY High Commissioner McCloy reports from Bonn that in a discussion yesterday with Chancellor Adenauer the latter repeated his concern over the French and British position on a reply to the latest Soviet note on Germany. Adenauer said he had told both the British and French High Commissioners that he was opposed to a four-power meet- ing on Germany now because of the risk involved of delay in ratification of the EDC treaty and contractual agreements. Adenauer emphasized to McCloy that the reply to the Soviets should make it possible to fend off a four-power conference until the right moment, which has not yet arrived. He indicated that the right moment might be when the EDC has made more definite progress and, specifically, when the US Senate, Bonn and perhaps Paris have ratified the appropriate agreements. Adenauer feels that a four-power conference now would put the fate of the contractuals exclusively in Soviet hands. Our representatives in Bonn had previously informed us that in a meeting between Adenauer and a group of government coalition leaders unanimous agreement was reached to try to obtain ratification of the contractuals and EDC treaty before the Bundestag's summer recess. How- - ever, since it was generally recognized that ratification could not be ac. - complished by July 10, the tentative date for Bundestag adjournment, it was also decided to press for postponement of the recess until August 15 in order to allow time for detailed committee deliberations. Our representa- - tives feel that, barring unfavorable external developments, the chances for postponement of the recess and for rat fication by the end of August have considerably improved. KOREA Ambassador Muccio reports that Lord Alexander and Selwyn Lloyd, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in interviews with President Rhee on Sunday and Monday, expressed the ir concern at the effect the political events in Korea were having on British public opinion. Lord Alexander is reported also to have remarked that the British people "did not like martial law" and to have asked Rhee why he did not lift it, as this gesture would help relieve the pressure of British and international public opinion. Rhee apparently was non-committal on the subject of SECRET SECURITY INF ORMA TION