762.2/8–1353
No. 583
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of
State for European Affairs (Merchant) to the Secretary of
State1
Subject:
- Proposal to transfer Capital of German Federal Republic to Berlin
At the request of your office I herewith submit my own judgment on the proposal.
[Page 1347]I can see psychological warfare advantages of a superficial character in announcing that the United States proposes or would support a proposal to move the capital of the Federal Republic from Bonn to Berlin. Berlin remains the symbol of German unity and United States support thereof would presumably be regarded by some Germans as a concrete move in that direction. It would also sharpen the contrast in a divided city between a puppet rule and a democratic government.
The disadvantages, however, to my mind are controlling. First of all, I understand that available evidence is that the Federal Republic Government itself would oppose a move to West Berlin which is not de jure a part of the Federal Republic. We would also be giving serious hostages to fortune in the person of the German Government in the event of trouble. Finally, any symbolic virtue would be lost if it became equally the symbol of disunity between the United States on the one hand and the British and the French on the other. Available indications are that the British and the French would strongly oppose this move and it is not a matter, in my judgment, on which we could or should make a unilateral proposal opposed by them.
Accordingly, I do not recommend that we pursue this idea further at this time. This is GER’s recommendation (see attached memo2). The very furthest I think we should go would be to informally sound out the British and the French to ascertain their present views in light of developments since June 17. If by any chance their reaction were favorable we could then pursue it informally and discreetly with the Chancellor.