Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT (NavelAide). 181 the OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Guidelines, Sec. March 3-402 6, 1982 March 12, 1951 State Dept. DEB NLT, Date By SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS F OUR-POWER - Ambassador Jessup reports that at the EXPLORATORY TALKS sixth session of the quadripartite meet- ing in Paris the French delegate introduced on behalf of the three western powers a revised agenda item one which in- - cluded "examination of existing level of armaments and of questions concerning Germany in this sphere. " Although Soviet Delegate Gromyko's initial reaction was definitely adverse he reserved the right to comment in detail at today's meeting. Ambassador Jessup then set the record straight on certain of Gromyko's statements, emphasizing that Soviet phrasing of its agenda items required tripartite acceptance of the Soviet point of view. He stressed throughout that the three governments could not accept prejudging of questions, and restated that the purpose of the agenda was to provide a framework for discussion by the Foreign Ministers of subjects which they agree should be discussed. Jessup was supported by the French and British delegate, with the latter pointing out that the total tripartite agenda includes all the items the Soviets desire to discuss and that our first item now includes those subjects which the Soviets believe to be the most important. He noted that the Trieste question could be discussed under "fulfillment of present treaty obligations" where perhaps the West would discuss the satellite peace treaties. Meanwhile, in reply to the French proposal for discussion of US and UK forces in Trieste, we have informed Ambassador Jessup that this question is inseparable from the question of the status of the Free Territory since these forces are in Trieste in execution of the obliga- - tion to continue military administration as prescribed in the Italian Peace Treaty. We believe any agreement to discuss separately the question of US and UK forces in Trieste might be interpreted as an admission that these forces have a military purpose and that there is something to the Soviet charges that a US-UK - military base exists in Trieste, which charge we have repeatedly informed the Soviets is completely without foundation. It appears, however, that if the Soviets accept our revised agenda item one, this ques - tion becomes academic, and we suggest that Jessup and his British colleague attempt to dissuade the French delegate from pursuing his idea for the present. TOPSECRET