286. Editorial Note
On May 7 Secretary of State Herter briefed the National Security Council on the forthcoming Foreign Ministers meeting. After tracing recent developments in the Western position since the NATO Ministerial Meeting, April 2–4, he outlined the phased plan for German reunification and indicated that there seemed to be evidence that the Soviet Union might make concessions at Geneva to ensure a Summit meeting. A memorandum of the discussion at the 405th meeting of the Council is in Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records.
Later in the day the Secretary addressed the nation to explain the problems that resulted from the continued division of Germany on the eve of the Foreign Ministers meeting. After reviewing the course of events since the Soviet note of November 27, 1958 (see Document 72), Herter outlined the Western position on Berlin and then gave his views on the Foreign Ministers Meeting and the prospects for a Summit conference. For text of his address, see Department of State Bulletin, May 25, 1959, pages 735–739.