396.1 GE/3–1954: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
4850. British Embassy has approached Department re possibility Soviet may raise European questions at Geneva. They have showed us copy Foreign Office cable summarized below and requested Department’s views.
Begin summary. Nothing to be gained by reopening Berlin discussions on Germany and Austria unless Russians prepared to modify their position. While they would seem to have no interest in resuming discussions they have given increasing attention recently to security proposals tabled by Molotov at Berlin. Already agreed composition and agenda for Geneva should preclude discussion such European items and we should “presumably” refuse consideration on these grounds.
If Soviet suggest further talks re European matters by Four Foreign Ministers (without Communist China) Western powers should point out views of four governments fully expressed at Berlin and no useful purpose served by further negotiation unless and until Soviet government prepared to agree to free elections in Germany and withdrawal of additional demands re Austria. We would then meet at time and place mutually agreed but not at Geneva conference, task of which already sufficient.
Another possibility is Soviet attempt at Geneva to obtain agreement to (A) Five Power conference to consider international tension or (B) reconvening Four Power conference to consider European matters. Re (B) we should not commit ourselves to hold conference unless and until we feel it can serve a useful purpose. Re (A) “Our final attitude must to some extent be dependent, so far at least as the Far East is concerned, upon whatever progress is made at Geneva over Korea and Indochina.” End summary.
We have informed Embassy we think it unlikely European issues will be raised by Soviets at Geneva. In event they are we would agree with British position outlined above with exception (A) quoted in preceding paragraph. We have informed Embassy our position re Five Power conference was clearly set forth by Secretary at Berlin [Page 470] and we are fundamentally opposed to Five Power concept regardless of developments on Far Eastern issues at Geneva.
Above for your information and use in discussions this subject with British officials.2
- Drafted by Elbrick of EUR. Repeated to Paris as telegram 3237 and to Moscow as telegram 586.↩
- In a memorandum dated Mar. 19, Elbrick reported to Merchant, MacArthur, and McConaughy that he had informed Adam Watson, First Secretary of the British Embassy, of the Department’s views substantially as set forth in the first paragraph of the above telegram. (396.1 GE/3–1954)↩