862A.501/8–553: Telegram
No. 212
The United States High Commissioner
for Germany (Conant) to the Department of
State1
530. Last week when Sir Ivone was in chair he discussed increase of Bundesgrenzschutz with Chancellor. Chancellor assured him that Federal Government did not intend to double the Bundesgrenzschutz before elections. All they propose to do was to fill about 300 leading positions. Chancellor then stated that he considered this conversation fulfilled requirements of consultation with AHC and Sir Ivone and I agreed that we would not present this small increase formally before AHC for action. Understand Francois-Poncet agrees, and may consider increase so trivial that perhaps he has not reported it to Paris.
In view of these circumstances suggest no need further discussion of this matter London, Paris or here until after elections.
Important to note that Chancellor repeated to Sir Ivone his assurance that he did not desire to create a private German army and that at least 300 new positions would be incorporated into EDC forces if and when treaty came into operation.
I have in my files record of this conversation between Sir Ivone and Chancellor, dated July 31.
- Repeated to Paris and London.↩