Editorial Note
On June 21, 22, and 23 President Truman and Secretary Acheson released various statements to the press concerning the Sixth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers. The President stated that real progress had been made with regard to the Austrian Treaty, but admitted that the same could not be said about the situation in Germany where the Russians refused to recognize the progress that had been made since 1945 in the Western Zones and had attempted to return to the Potsdam system which they had rendered unworkable by misusing their veto power. He felt that the results of the Council were a vindication of the United States policies and underlined the necessity of continuing to pursue them.
Secretary Acheson met with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, June 22, and with the House Foreign Affairs Committee, June 23, to report on the Council session. In statements released to [Page 1040] the press following these meetings he noted that the results of the Council illustrated the basic differences between the Soviet Union and the Western powers and reemphasized the importance of ratifying the North Atlantic pact and passing the Military Assistance Program in order that the United States could continue its firm policy in Europe which, in the Secretary’s opinion, was responsible for the lifting of the blockade and the convoking of the Council.
In another release to the press on June 23, Acheson gave some of his impressions of the Council, stressing that the Soviet Union was finable to accept the possibility of relaxing its grip on Eastern Germany as the United States, United Kingdom, and France had done in Western Germany. The modus vivendi was a modest document, but it did ease, the tension in Germany, and informal arrangements had been concluded to allow the Commandants in Berlin to meet and discuss the city’s many problems. As to Austria, a substantial step forward had been taken and the avenue toward solution found with the disposal of the Yugoslav claims and the outline of an agreement on German assets in Austria. The Secretary concluded that if the United States intended to continue moving forward, it must pass the Military Assistance Program and ratify the North Atlantic pact.
For the full texts of these statements, see Department of State Bulletin, July 4, 1949, pages 858–861.