Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 192

No. 469
Minutes of a Meeting of the Tripartite Working Group, Berlin, February 13, 1954, 10:30 a.m.

secret
BER MIN–18
February 13, 1954
  • Present
    • united states
      • Mr. MacArthur
    • united kingdom
      • Sir Frank Roberts
    • france
      • M. Seydoux

1. Tactics for Today

It was agreed that Mr. Eden as Chairman would note that the Austrians had not had an opportunity to comment on Mr. Molotov’s and Mr. Eden’s proposals1 and he would ask for the Austrian views. Mr. Figl would give a speech in which he would reject the Soviet proposal. Mr. Eden would then turn to Mr. Molotov. Mr. Dulles would emphasize the unacceptability of Mr. Molotov’s proposal and would set forth the thought that agreement on the Austrian Treaty was possible at this conference. M. Bidault would concentrate on knocking down the Molotov proposal, and Mr. Eden in addition rejecting the Soviet proposal will suggest agreement to his proposal of yesterday.

The three western ministers would meet in Mr. Eden’s office after the quadripartite session to decide whether tomorrow the [Page 1075] offer could be made to take the long version of the Treaty with the Soviet versions of the various unagreed articles. After this decision is made, it would be necessary to consult with Figl on this tactic. In the meeting with the Austrians it would be necessary to obtain certain verbal assurances.

Depending on the outcome of tonight’s meeting, a tripartite ministerial meeting would be set up for around noon on Sunday at Mr. Eden’s residence.

2. Other Problems on Austria

Sir Frank raised the problem of handling Austria in the final tripartite communiqué, the possibility of a separate communiqué on Austria, and post-conference problems on Austria. He also noted the French suggestion for a four power guarantee regarding an Anschluss with Germany. Neither the UK nor the U.S. delegations could accept this suggestion.

3. Post-Conference German Problems

The report of the German experts was accepted.2 It was believed there was no need for ministerial approval of the letters from the High Commissioners and Commandants to their Soviet opposite numbers but it was agreed that the Commandants and the High Commissioners themselves should consider these texts. It was pointed out that it would be necessary to consult with the Germans before the letters were sent. It was agreed that the chairman of the High Commissioners should personally deliver the letter at a meeting with Semenov to emphasize the importance of the letters.

4. Possible Final Communiqué

A UK draft of a final communiqué was circulated.3 The question was left open for ministerial decision as to whether several communiqués would be issued, or whether there would be a tripartite communiqué at all. The various items suggested for the communiqué to cover were: Germany, Austria, Item 1, Berlin, and a statement of the effect of the Berlin Conference on relations with the Soviet Union. The three delegations would examine the present draft and prepare comments. On Monday, machinery would be set up for tripartite consultation.

[Page 1076]

5. Place of Meeting for the Conference Next Week

It was assumed that the conference would be continued in the Unter den Linden Building. Representatives of the three delegations would ask Mr. Sobelev for his views when they met with him this afternoon at 2:40.4

6. Conference Schedule

After the tripartite meeting M. Seydoux proposed that the following schedule be proposed to Sobelev which changes the schedule for Monday and Tuesday worked out at the tripartite official meeting yesterday:

Sunday, February 14

3:30 p.m., plenary, Austria

Monday, February 15

11:00 a.m., plenary, Austria

3:30 p.m., restricted meeting, Agenda Item 1.

Tuesday, February 16

11:00 a.m., restricted meeting or otherwise, if needed and desirable

3:00 p.m. (or 3:30 depending upon what happens in the morning), plenary on Agenda Item 2.

  1. For Molotov’s proposal, see Document 521. For Eden’s proposal, see Secto 129, Document 463.↩
  2. The origin and development of the Tripartite Working Group on Post-Conference Moves re Germany is obscure. Its composition and work are described briefly in BER MIN–15, Document 443, and BER MIN–17, Document 457. However, the report under reference, which presumably stressed the need for amelioration of conditions in Berlin, has not been identified further. Regarding the letters to be delivered to Dengin and Semyenov, see Document 601.↩
  3. Not found in Department of State files.↩
  4. At the quadripartite meeting at 2:40 p.m. it was agreed that there would be a plenary meeting on Austria later that day and on Feb. 14, a restricted session on Item I in the morning, and a plenary session in the afternoon on Item II. Sobelev reported that Molotov agreed that the conference would terminate on Feb. 18, but the site for future meetings was left to be determined by the Foreign Ministers. (Secto 132 from Berlin, Feb. 13, 396.1 BE/2–1354)↩