Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 192

No. 457
Minutes of a Meeting of the Tripartite Working Group, Berlin, February 11, 1954, 10:30 a.m.

secret
BER MIN–17
February 11, 1954
  • Present
    • united states
      • Mr. MacArthur
    • united kingdom
      • Sir Frank Roberts
    • france
      • M. Seydoux

1. Tactics for Today

a.

Five-Power Conference. Mr. MacArthur said that in place of submitting a modified proposal as suggested by the British and French yesterday, the Secretary wished to open the restricted session by requesting Molotov’s views. If Molotov has nothing new the conference could pass on to disarmament. More probably, Molotov will set forth strong views in which the concept of a Five-Power Conference will be basic. In this event, the three powers should point out the unacceptability of this matter and move on to the disarmament question. This matter will be discussed among the Ministers this noon.1

It was noted that Mr. Dulles might wish to announce his intention of making the U.S. proposal2 a conference document. The document would not have to be released to the press tonight but could be released tomorrow with appropriate comments.

b.
Disarmament. It was agreed that an attempt would be made to wind up this topic today so that another restricted session would not be necessary. It was hoped that the sessions would not last longer than 6:30 but it was more important that all business at this session be finished.
c.
Press Communiqué. The British circulated a draft press communiqué which will be taken up with the three Ministers in their preliminary meeting.3
d.
Approach to Molotov re First Session on Austria. It was suggested that M. Bidault approach Mr. Molotov at the dinner tonight with regard to the possibility of the Austrians remaining in the room while the four Ministers give their initial statements on Item 3. The three Ministers will discuss this at their preliminary meeting.
e.
Treatment of War Criminals. The Ministers will discuss at their preliminary meeting an approach by either Mr. Dulles or Mr. Eden to Mr. Molotov regarding this subject.
f.
Procedure for Austrian Discussion and the Termination of Item 2. The three Ministers may discuss today the question as to whether the Ministers should continue the discussion of the Austrian item on Saturday in the hopes of concluding it, or whether the four Ministers should return to Item 2 on Saturday. Both the U.S. and the UK felt it was important to have discussion on all items on the agenda and then come back to unfinished business in final statements.4

2. Meeting Place for the Conference Next Week

The three Ministers will be reminded today that a decision on this subject must be made shortly. The factors involved are: (1) it would not be advisable to haggle over this procedural point if Mr. Molotov wants to have it in the Soviet Sector; and (2) if the Austrian question can not be concluded by the end of this week, it would be preferable to continue this discussion at the ACA Building where simultaneous translating facilities are available.

3. Austria

The Austrian experts will continue work on Figl’s opening speech and on the proposal on Austria to be tabled by Mr. Eden.

4. Post-Conference German Problems

The German experts will report to the Working Group tomorrow or Saturday on measures to be taken with respect to the amelioration of conditions in Berlin.

5. Final Tripartite Communiqué

It was argued that the German experts would prepare a draft section on Item 2 to be included in a possible tripartite communiqué to be used at the end of the conference. It was suggested that [Page 1036] the Far Eastern experts and the Austrian experts prepare similar sections for their items on the agenda.

  1. There is no record of a meeting of the Foreign Ministers at noon in Department of State files.↩
  2. Transmitted in Dulte 44, Document 436.↩
  3. No copy of this communiqué has been found in Department of State files.↩
  4. Attached to the source text is a more detailed record of the discussion of Item I, prepared by McConaughy and dated Feb. 11.↩