CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 179: CFMP Series
Paper Prepared by the Office of German and Austrian Affairs1
CFMP D–3a
U.S. Position at the Council of Foreign Ministers
Basic Premise:
The Western German program to which the United States Government is formally committed is in a final stage of implementation. It is accepted that the Western German program will be fulfilled, and that any four power agreement would be based on that program. If the CFM were to result in apparent agreement which later was not carried out due to Soviet obstruction and bad faith, it would be necessary to return to the Western German arrangements. Accordingly it is necessary that the U.S. position consistently throughout the CFM should be so devised as not to jeopardize nor detract in any way from the Western German program. Any agreement on all Germany acceptable to the U.S. will be so closely related to the Western German arrangements that in the event the all German program breaks down as a result of Soviet action, the program for Western Germany would continue in full effect.
Timing:
The Bonn constitution has been given a final reading by the Parliamentary Council on May 8 and has been formally submitted to the Military Governors for approval. Such approval will probably be given by May 15, at which time the Occupation Statute (already released) will be formally communicated to the Germans. The constitution thereupon will be referred to the states for ratification which will probably take place by vote of the state parliaments. Under such [Page 896] circumstances, ratification by the required ⅔ majority be effected between two and three weeks, namely sometime between June 1 and June 15. General elections under the constitution of the first federal government would be held presumably within four to six weeks thereafter. Elections are likely to fall thus between July 1 and July 15.
Extension of Constitution to All of Germany:
The constitution will presumably be ratified by the Western German states at the time of or shortly after the commencement of the CFM, and the electoral preparations will begin at once thereafter.
If the Eastern German states are to ratify the constitution before their participation, it would be necessary to postpone the election schedule in Western Germany. In fact, if general elections were to be held throughout Germany at the same time, it would also be necessary to postpone the Western German election schedule, in so far as an interim period of preparation in the Eastern zone would be required for the establishment and free operation there of political parties such as the SPD at present unauthorized under the Soviets.
Extension of the constitution to the Eastern zone can only be envisaged with the participation of Germans in the Eastern states who are as politically free as the population in the Western zones. The Eastern Germans, by majority decision must voluntarily signify their desire to join the Federal Republic. In order that this may occur, all democratic parties authorized anywhere in Germany (in particular the Social Democratic Party) must be free to engage in political activity. For the purpose of eliminating interference by Soviet occupation forces and the Communist police, there must be a system of initial supervision, preferably directed by officials of the Federal Republic perhaps with assistance of a quadripartite commission of elections and political activity.
In practice this may mean that there will be some delay in bringing the Eastern states into the Federal Republic. New free elections under the above-mentioned conditions for new state governments would be necessary before the latter can signify their desire to accede to the Basic Law. The Eastern states would then hold free general elections to choose their representatives to the Lower House of the Federal Republic (representatives to the upper chamber would be chosen by the new state governments).
From the Western standpoint, it would be desirable that the above procedure follow its course; namely, that the Federal Republic be set up in the Western zones and the Eastern states hold new elections for their governments, signify their desire to accede and then hold general elections for their representatives to the Parliament.
[Page 897]It is recognized that a certain element of inequity could be claimed to attach itself to the above procedure. Consequently, the Western governments might consider offering a concession, provided this were acceptable to the leaders of the Federal Republic when established. It could be stated that after new and free Eastern state governments had been elected under supervision and had expressed their desire to accede to the Basic Law, new general elections for the Federal Lower House could be held throughout all the states in Germany (possibly likewise under supervision). (This, of course, would take place some time after the first general elections had been held in the Western zones and the Federal Republic had been set up.) The new Parliament, with added Eastern zone representation, would thus be free to consider any amendments to the Basic Law deemed necessary to adapt the government to all of Germany.
In advocating Soviet acceptance of the principles of Basic Law, the Western governments can always point to the fact that this law is provisional in character and adaptable by free German decision to the needs of a united country.
Control Machinery:
With necessary minor adaptations the Occupation Statute and the Washington Agreement as to Controls2 could be applied on a quadripartite basis to all of Germany. So long as the system of controls operates under the majority vote procedure, disagreement between the Western Allies and the Soviets should, on the assumption that following the Atlantic Treaty the French will adhere to a common Western policy respecting Germany, not result in the obstruction of German governmental processes nor failure to take positive action where needed. A further protection for German government operation would reside in the fact that its legislative enactments would come into force automatically if not disapproved by majority vote.
If Germany is to be unified, it is essential that the zonal boundaries be eliminated and that the individual occupying powers cease to maintain separate governmental authority in the former occupation zones. Accordingly it should be left to the Allied Commission to decide by majority vote the nature and extent of its representation in the various German Laender.
The list of reserved powers in an Occupation Statute for quadripartite agreement could be the same, omitting control over foreign trade and exchange and control over internal action affecting the need for external assistance. It is envisaged that U.S. interest in these matters [Page 898] would be covered by a bilateral ECA agreement with Germany. The proposed list of reserved powers would also omit the minor items of “restitution”, “Non-discrimination in trade matters”, and the “prestige” of Allied forces.
A uniform procedure for decision by majority vote should be set down for the quadripartite control machinery. It is recognized that this provision will be contested by the Soviets. For this reason, the provision for unanimity in certain instances under the Washington Agreements should be dropped so that the program as presented will offer no opening wedge on this issue. Thus paragraph 4 of the Washington Agreement as to Controls regarding unanimous approval of amendments to the constitution as well as the first sentence of paragraph 5 of the Occupation Statute would be omitted.
The appeal procedures contained in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Washington Agreement as to Controls would be omitted as involving too complicated a procedure to apply in concert with the Russians. The provision in the Occupation Statute (paragraph 7) for dealing with legislation of the occupation authorities enacted before the effective date of the provisional constitution would also be omitted. The procedure outlined therein is too complicated to work out with the Russians. It is assumed that the German government itself will be able to modify such legislation subject to majority disapproval.
Economic Unity:
It is proposed that the restoration of economic unity be left to a responsible German government. This means that, after a German government is established, it will have to take the necessary steps to re-establish a common currency for the whole of Germany, to bring about a measure of equality in the economic conditions of East and West Germany. It will introduce common ration scales and, in general, bring about an adjustment between the highly controlled and semi-communized Eastern Zone and the relatively free economy Western Zones. It is essential that, if the German government is to do this with any degree of effectiveness and without the risk of serious economic and political repercussions, there must be no interference on the part of the occupation authorities. Consequently, the arrangements with respect to Germany must in effect remove the occupation authorities from operating in the field of economic administration. Furthermore, the arrangement with respect to the future disposition of troops must be such as to avoid the possibility of interference by the troops in the economic administration.
Germany and the European Recovery Program:
It is essential to the success of the European Recovery Program that Germany continue to participate in the program. Since it cannot be [Page 899] expected that the Soviet Union would agree to any specific clause providing for continued German participation in the European Recovery Program, the control machinery to be provided under any new quadripartite agreement on Germany must at least make it possible for Germany to continue to participate in the program if it wishes without such adherence being subject to Soviet veto. This can be done by permitting the German government to enter into international agreements unless such agreements are disapproved by the Allied High Commission. It is believed that the German need for economic assistance is so great that Germany could not afford to withdraw from ERP. For the forthcoming fiscal year, it is expected that close to a billion dollars will be made available in aid to Germany by the US and UK. In Germany’s current circumstances, it is not believed that the kind of government which would be established under a system of free elections would decide to refrain from obtaining the benefits of ERP.
The re-establishment of economic unity by a German government is closely related to the problem of continued American aid. Unless the German government were able to control its resources without interference from the Soviet Government, a substantial part of our aid to Germany might be wasted. Furthermore, we could not consider creating a situation under which complete freedom of trade between the zones were re-established at a time when the USSR was in control of the Eastern Zone. If we did, our aid would tend to be diverted to a substantial measure, together with goods produced in the Western Zones which are now going to other ERP countries. This means that the zones of occupation must be effectively terminated and the way left open for the US to work out with the Germans directly measures which would safeguard against our aid being wasted.
Reparation:3
The USSR has consistently declined to submit information on what it has taken from Germany in reparation. According to best estimates from intelligence sources, we believe that plant removals from the Eastern Zone, reparation from current production in the Eastern Zone, and German assets in Eastern Europe taken by the USSR would add up to three to four billion dollars current value. In addition, the Soviets have taken control of most of the leading industrial plants in their zone which are being operated as Soviet-owned enterprises. These plants, the right of the Soviets to which we challenge, are probably worth in the neighborhood of three billion dollars. In addition, the USSR has acquired German territory in East Prussia and has used the labor of a large number of prisoners of war, which might add several billion dollars.
[Page 900]The other countries entitled to reparation from Germany (except Poland, which gets a part of the Soviet share) stand to receive about a billion dollars in reparation. Meanwhile, the US and UK have had to extend more than three billion dollars of financial aid to Germany, the extent of our aid having been increased by the policies of the Soviets in their zone.
Germany will probably, at best, be able to achieve a very precarious; economic balance by the end of the European Recovery Program. To agree to any further reparation would risk jeopardizing German recovery and German economic and political stability, particularly in view of the degree to which the Germans will have to look to the East for trade in the future. In view of what has happened over the past four years, refusal to consider further reparation is certainly not inequitable. It is, therefore, proposed that we take the position that there shall be no reparation beyond completion of the present dismantling program in the Western Zones. We demand that the Soviets, cease taking reparation from current production in their zone and desist from any further dismantling. We also demand that they give up the plants still in Germany which they have taken under control. This demand shall take the form of a proposal that all the occupying powers relinquish any properties except consular and diplomatic property which they have acquired in Germany since the surrender. Since there has been a prohibition against the acquisition of new properties, by foreigners in the Western Zones, this proposal would in practice affect only the USSR. It should be provided that the properties to be surrendered shall be placed under the provisional administration of the Laender, and that their ultimate disposition shall be determined’ by the German Federal Government.
The Ruhr:
The USSR has consistently proposed that a four-power control be established over the Ruhr. The Soviet proposal apparently envisages, detailed control over production, management and distribution, the operation of which would require four-power agreement. The control provided for in the recently concluded Ruhr Control Agreement4 is of a radically different character. It provides for an Authority, including Germany and the Benelux countries and the three Western occupying powers, with a weighted system of voting, operating generally on a majority basis. The primary functions of the Authority are to establish minimum quotas for export of coal, coke and steel and to prevent discrimination by the Germans in exports of Ruhr products, [Page 901] the Authority at a later stage to be given powers to prevent excessive economic concentrations in the Ruhr coal and steel industries, to maintain general control over investment and to prevent former Nazis from obtaining positions of authority. The export allocations are subject to review by the OEEC.
If four-power agreement on Germany is to be achieved, some alteration of the present agreement may be required. The USSR could possibly be admitted into an arrangement such as the present one, although this has the disadvantage of allowing the Soviets to stir up trouble and to use the Authority for political purposes. The maintenance of a majority vote system would set limits on these possibilities.
Another possibility is for both the US and the USSR to be excluded from the Authority, confining its membership to Western European countries. This also involves very serious difficulties. While control over Germany is exercised through a quadripartite High Commission, such an arrangement could create problems with respect to the relations between the Commission and the Authority. Either the Authority would have to look to the Commission for enforcement of its orders, in which the USSR and US would be involved in any event, or, alternatively, the Ruhr would have to be carved out of Germany for certain purposes and placed under a specialized body. Futhermore, to exclude the US would mean eliminating the one country which is more or less disinterested, and placing Germany in the hands of her competitors and customers.
We should propose that the USSR be excluded from the Ruhr Authority, which is a matter of direct concern to Western Europe, but that the US remain a member. It should be noted in this connection that the Silesian industrial complex is under exclusive Eastern domination.
Disarmament and Demilitarization:
The proposal of a four-power treaty for the disarmament and demilitarization of Germany would not be included. It is believed that the security arrangements agreed upon by the three powers for Western Germany would be satisfactory for the short term period if extended to apply to all of Germany on a quadripartite basis. Permanent disarmament requirements to be imposed on Germany should properly be left to the definitive peace settlement. The Byrnes proposal5 was initiated three years ago to meet specific purposes at that time, particularly to allay security fears and facilitate a general settlement of [Page 902] German problems. It is remotely possible that the Soviets in the CFM may inquire whether the Byrnes treaty offer is still open. The U.S. would be able to answer that while it has not changed its position with regard to security guarantees, it believes that the present disarmament arrangements satisfy immediate requirements and that it would be superfluous to provide for alternative measures, in a separate treaty, such as envisaged in the Byrnes proposal. These should be incorporated in the final peace treaty, which the U.S. agrees should be concluded as soon as possible.
Frontiers:
Boundary questions will certainly arise in the CFM and it will be to the advantage of the Western powers again to reaffirm that they do not regard the Eastern administrative frontier as permanent. Reference should be made to Germany’s needs in the light of its present population problem. It might be stated that although the U.S. recognizes its commitment at Potsdam to support incorporation of the northern part of East Prussia into the Soviet Union, it would welcome a proposal of the Soviet Union to yield its claim to this area in Poland’s favor as compensation for an adjustment along Poland’s western frontier.
All-German Settlement:
Attached is a program which sets forth the requirements for the conclusion of an all-German settlement. It contains points other than those dealt with above. It nevertheless would seem to be inadvisable tactically for the Western governments initially to develop such a program in any detail until after the Soviets had declared their position. The opening proposal of the Western governments should be simply that the Western German arrangements stand and are capable of application to all of Germany. It is to be anticipated that the Western powers will be called upon to explain and justify the terms of the Western German arrangements with which they were forced to proceed due to Soviet obstruction in the Allied Control Authority and the previous CFM meetings. The Western powers should reiterate their position that they are willing to discuss the basis for Soviet participation. Should the Soviets indicate a real desire to enter into an agreement along these lines, it would then be desirable to elaborate the detailed terms of this adaptation of the Western German program to all of Germany.
If the Soviets do not indicate any such willingness, it should be the aim of the Western nations to introduce the major controversial issues of the past meetings such as reparations, and the Eastern frontier question in order to expose clearly to the public that the Soviets have [Page 903] not altered their unacceptable demands on these key issues. If the meeting is to break down without agreement, it is desirable that it do so as a result of the basic controversial issues which are generally understood by world opinion. On this basis the continuation of the Western German program would be accepted as a necessity.
- Attached to the source text was a memorandum by Bradley Patterson which explained that it was a revision of CFMP which had been circulated at a meeting in Secretary Acheson’s office May 10. The revisions had been made after conferences with the Secretary and following receipt of comments from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The text of CFMP D–3 and a memorandum of the meeting in the Secretary’s office are in file 740.00119 Council/5–1049. Apparently CFMP D–3 was the third draft on the United States position at the Council of Foreign Ministers since two other papers prepared in the Office of German and Austrian Affairs, dated April 23 and 25, bear similar titles. Copies of these two papers are in file 740.00119 Council/4–2249 and 2549.↩
- Under reference here is the Tripartite Control Agreement, signed by the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States at Washington, April 8, 1949. For the text of this agreement, see p. 181.↩
- For documentation on the United States policy regarding reparation from Germany, see pp. 546 ff.↩
- For the text of the draft Agreement for the Establishment of an International Authority for the Ruhr, December 1948, see Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. ii, p. 581; for the final text, signed at London on April 28, 1949, see 3 UST 5212.↩
- The reference here is to the Draft Treaty on the Disarmament and Demilitarization of Germany proposed on April 30, 1946 by Secretry of State Byrnes at the Second Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Paris. For the text of this draft proposal, see Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. ii, p. 190.↩
- Two earlier drafts of this part of the paper have been identified in addition to that contained in CFMP D–3. The earlier, dated April 29 and prepared in the Office of German and Austrian Affairs, was entitled “A US Program for Germany for Presentation in a CFM.” The later draft, dated May 3, is apparently a redraft of the earlier one and bears the title “CFM Program for Germany.” Neither of these drafts is printed, but copies of them are in the CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 140: Jessup–Malik Conversations.↩
- The source text bears the date May 9, 1949, but this is probably in error since the revision of CFMP D–3 occurred May 10 and CFMP D–3a is dated May 15.↩
- For documentation relating to the consideration of the Basic Law by the Bonn Parliamentary Council, see pp. 187 ff.↩
- Brackets in source text.↩
- Not printed; for the text of this agreement, see Germany 1947–1949, pp. 366–371.↩