292. Telegram From Secretary of State Herter to the Department of State0
Cahto 3. For the President from the Secretary.
“Dear Mr. President:
First session opened1 nearly three hours late because of continuous unresolved wrangling during day over seating arrangements for German delegates and rules applying to their right to speak during conference deliberations. At times wrangle assumed ridiculous proportions, but major issue at stake was Soviet effort secure for East Germany full representation and equal rights with four responsible powers. Final agreements satisfactory to us were reached only after hassle with Gromyko on our insistence Germans sit at separate tables. Conference room finally set up when Gromyko agreed separate tables for Germans should be not more than six pencil widths apart from main table. In securing this exact measure, many pencils of many sizes were laid out but final exact measurement agreed to and conference allowed to proceed.
If today’s haggling any indication of days to come, patience and then some will be a very necessary requisite.
Faithfully,
Signed: Chris”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–HE/5–1159. Secret; Niact.↩
- See Document 294.↩