740.00119 Control (Germany)/4–2249: Telegram
The Department of the Army to the United States Military Governor for Germany (Clay)
priority
WAR 87613. Personal to Clay from Bradley and Voorhees. Pass to USPolAd for Riddleberger.
Immediately following telecon we conferred with Acheson, Webb, Murphy and Jessup giving substance of your messages in telecon and stating that you and we would cooperate in every way possible to carry out State’s decision.1 We made clear that you felt you could not under present circumstances negotiate effectively because you were not certain that you could accurately interpret State’s policy; that since yesterday’s decision was made by State against your judgment as the Army’s representative, State should have the authority and responsibility in continuing negotiations although negotiations themselves [Page 251] would be conducted by you or Hayes. We further suggested that under above conditions State immediately send representative to Germany, to arrive before Monday, who is completely familiar with Foreign Ministers’ negotiations here and authorized to act. We offered to send Dorr with him to represent Department of Army with definite understanding that he would be merely advisor and that full authority would rest with State’s representative. All of this was approved personally by Acheson, who named Murphy to go. Promptly thereafter it was approved by the President. Dorr has agreed to go. Plane leaves tonight making brief stop at London, which should be kept confidential. It probably will arrive Germany Sunday.
With responsibility for interpretation of policy and for decisions accepted by State, we believe your principal difficulty as expressed in telecon this morning is met. We consider it most important to assist State and Murphy personally to utmost in their present heavy responsibilities. Accordingly, if they desire it, and if you feel you can effectively conduct Monday’s negotiations as Military Governor we know you will do so, and although we hope this will be possible we are relying on your judgment to decide.
- No record of the telecon or of the conference with Acheson and others has been found in Department of State files.↩