740.00119 Control (Germany)/S–648: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
904. For Lovett. Yesterday I had a very private, confidential and unofficial meeting with Massigli and Sir William Strang and later in the day with the same two and Van Verduynen. We discussed the question of security which is one of the items on the agenda of the present talks about Germany. In accordance with your cable, I said what I had said before privately that it was evident that the US was deeply concerned with the fate of Western Europe and that this concern was demonstrated by ERP and by the reaction of our Government to Mr. Bevin’s proposals for a western union.
Speaking unofficially, I said first, “The United States Government was willing to make an endeavor to find a formula which would provide for consultation between the US and the UK and France in the event of a threat of aggression by Germany or in the event of a default by Germany in the sphere of disarmament and demilitarization. Consultation would take the form contemplated in the proposed Byrnes’ treaty and participation by Benelux countries would be welcomed if they desired. If a conclusion in this sense was reached, it was contemplated that a public statement would be made at a later date”.
Second, that we were considering the possibility, during the period of occupation, of setting up in Germany a military security board consisting of representatives of the three western occupying powers as an adjunct of tripartite military government.
Third, I said that in my opinion it was very unlikely that American forces would be withdrawn from Germany for a long time—until the threat from the east had disappeared.
[Page 139]I preferred to present these views unofficially and privately rather than at a full plenary meeting. I took pains to impress upon them the need for guarding with the greatest secrecy. Privately and unofficially all expressed the view that if these ideas could be put into effect, they would go far toward providing satisfaction.