296.1 BE/2–454: Telegram
No. 415
The United States
Delegation at the Berlin Conference to the Department of State1
Secto 82. Department pass OSD. Following summarizes second part of February 3 meeting:2
Resuming discussion Molotov charged Western Ministers evaded specific points he had raised and dealt with question in generalities. He said he felt Soviet delegation could ask for clear explanation of significance of clauses he said cited in Bonn and EDC treaties. He said Paris agreement established closed military group of six countries from which other countries are excluded. It was not mere matter of suspicion. It had been openly admitted that EDC was directed against USSR and People’s Democracies. It was also fact that American bases were being built throughout Europe. He suggested that, if provisions to which he had referred in Bonn and Paris agreements did not have significance, they could perhaps be omitted. He suggested agreements might be dispensed with entirely. He pointed out that Article 128 of Paris agreement3 provides [Page 949] that its duration will be 50 years and that preamble and Article 11 of Bonn convention4 link that agreement with EDC treaty. He drew conclusion from this that Bonn convention would also remain in force 50 years. If Paris agreement would lose its force upon entry into force of peace treaty, why did it provide for duration of 50 years? This was clearly effort of Western Powers and Western Germany to impose EDC upon western part of Germany and on Eastern Germany as well. However, Eastern Germany would never agree to this. If Paris agreement is to remain in force for 50 years, peace treaty with Germany would be impossible. Either Paris and Bonn treaty must be denounced and peace treaty could be signed, or Western Powers’ insistence on Paris and Bonn agreements means that they are opposed to peace treaty and unification.
Secretary said he could reply to Molotov’s questions very simply by making change in Eden’s proposal.5 He suggested that in paragraph of Section IV of Eden’s proposal which states that all-German government shall have authority to assume international rights and obligations of Federal Republic and Soviet Zone of Germany, words “or reject” might be added after “assume”. He thought this would answer Molotov’s questions and was sure it was in spirit of proposal.
Molotov asked whether conclusion of EDC treaty would be postponed under this proposal in view of its 50 year period of duration. Secretary replied that if new all-German government has right to accept or reject existing treaty duration of treaty is immaterial.
Bidault said he thought answer to Molotov’s question was clear and simple change in text of Eden’s proposal. All-German government would be free to accept or reject any treaties concluded by Federal Republic or GDR. He had attempted to answer Molotov’s questions and would do so again as clearly as he could in following session.
Eden commented regarding Bonn convention that special rights of Western Powers to which Molotov had referred represent mitigation of rights they now enjoy and in any case relate only to period before peace treaty. He thought Molotov had misunderstood Bonn convention and pointed out that in quoting it, Molotov had omitted words “pending the peace settlement” in paragraph 2 of Article 7. This made it clear that unified Germany need not accept integration into EDC. He thought that it was generally recognized principle that new state (which unified Germany would be in relation to Federal Republic) cannot be bound by obligations of its predecessors [Page 950] unless it undertakes them voluntarily by treaty or other means after new state is created. He said that he accepted Secretary’s proposed amendment.
Molotov asked whether EDC treaty contains any provision stating it should remain in force only pending conclusion of peace treaty with Germany. He did not believe it did. He said Western Germany and Western Powers have undertaken to maintain EDC in force for 50 years and that Western Germany is under threat of reprisals to comply with this undertaking. This effectively restricted freedom of a unified German state.6
- Repeated to London, Paris, Bonn, Vienna, Moscow, and CINCEUR.↩
- For a report on the first part of the ninth plenary meeting, see Secto 81, supra.↩
- For the EDC Treaty, see Documents (R.I.I.A.) for 1952, pp. 116–162.↩
- For text of the Convention on Relations between the Three Powers and the Federal Republic of Germany, see Document 50.↩
- For Eden’s proposal, see FPM(54)17, Document 510.↩
- The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. following this statement by Molotov.↩