Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

762B.00/3–2654: Telegram

No. 766
The Director of the Berlin Element, HICOG (Parkman) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

confidential

Berlin, March 26 1954—6 p.m.

1139. From EAD. USSR declaration re relations between Soviet Union and GDR, published East press today,² does not appear to us even ostensibly to grant “full sovereignty” to GDR. According to declaration, “Soviet Union takes up with GDR same relations as with other sovereign states”, GDR granted right “to make decisions re her internal and external affairs, including questions of relations with West Germany”, and Soviet HICOMer no longer supervises “activity of state organs of GDR”. But declaration makes clear that “Soviet Union retains in GDR functions which connected with guaranteeing security and result from obligations proceeding from four-power agreements”. Soviet HICOMers functions reduced, but he remains, specifically to deal with “above-mentioned guaranteeing of security”, and to maintain contact with US, British, French representatives on “questions of all-German character” and matters “which arise from agreed decisions of four-powers”. Also, declaration notes GDR has obligated self to operate within framework Potsdam agreement as relates to “democratic and peaceful” development of Germany, and “temporary maintenance of Soviet troops in GDR”.

In general, declaration appears to be formalization of what Soviets and GDR have claimed situation to be, except for specific renunciation of supervisory authority over GDR state organs and opening of way for GDR offer to establish diplomatic relations with Federal Republic. Seems ‘logical extension Soviet GDR position revealed … over past months and… at Berlin conference”³ (EAD telegram Bonn 1134 Department 973 Moscow 242 pouched London Paris⁴). We do not expect declaration to end de facto Soviet control over internal or external affairs of GDR any more than did previous less formal statements re German Democratic Republic competence to deal with Federal Republic.

Access to Berlin seems be in no more jeopardy than before declaration made, insofar as right of access derives from four-power agreement. Check points at Helmstedt and Dreilinden reported at midnight last night no change in checking procedure for Americans and this morning gave same report. We will, of course, report immediately any change in procedure as it affects allied nationals, other foreign nationals or West Germans and West Berliners.

If access rights not later affected—and we have no evidence change in this field will come—most significant aspect of declaration is fact it gives further evidence fraudulence of Soviet position on unity issue. Soviet line is that GDR–Federal Republic negotiations essential element in reunification process. Soviet Union knows GDR regime is discredited, unacceptable to majority Germans East and West. Further Soviets go in raising status of GDR, more massive is obstacle to unity and closer GDR comes to satellite status.

Key question arising from issuance declaration is whether Soviets, as matter policy, intend, when particular issues involving essential allied rights in Germany arise, to agree with three west powers that these rights are in fact covered by quadripartite agreements; and, to extent disagreement, what position allies will take.

Parkman

1. Repeated to Washington, Moscow, London, and Paris; the source text is the copy in Department of State files.
2. In a declaration dated Mar. 25, the Government of the Soviet Union decreed that its future relations with the German Democratic Republic would be governed by the principle of full sovereignty. The Soviet High Commissioner would serve only to represent the Soviet Government in discussions with the other High Commissioners on questions of all-German affairs. The GDR Government acknowledged this declaration in a reciprocal decree of Mar. 27. The texts of the two declarations are printed in Aussenpolitik der DDR, vol. i, pp. 303 and 304.
3. Ellipses in the source text.
4. Telegram 1134, dated Mar. 25, commented on press speculation that a sovereignty declaration for the German Democratic Republic was imminent. (762B.00/3–2554)