Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Berlin Crisis, 1958–1959, Volume VIII

294. Telegram From the Delegation to the Foreign Ministers Meeting to the Department of State⁰

Geneva, May 12, 1959, 1 a.m.

Secto 14. Paris pass USRO. First Session Foreign Ministers Conference called to order by Selwyn Lloyd 6:25 p.m. after twenty minute delay regarding seating of East Germans. East Germans had been allotted six seats at small table to left of Soviet Delegation. Before the meeting Soviets pressed for increasing number of seats for East Germans on the floor to ten comparable to number of chairs for British, French and Soviet Delegations. After delay six East Germans took their places and meeting began with opening speech of welcome by Secretary General Hammarskjold. Selwyn Lloyd responded with brief speech expressing gratitude to UN, seriousness of task facing Foreign Ministers, hope of making some progress toward mutual understanding. After receiving approval to sending letter of thanks¹ on behalf of four delegations to Swiss Government for its hospitality Selwyn Lloyd proposed meeting be adjourned until 3:30 tomorrow. Soviets will be in chair tomorrow. Verbatim texts follow by pouch.

Herter

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–GE/5–1259. Confidential. Repeated to Bonn, London, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, and USUN. The U.S. Delegation verbatim record of the session, US/VR/1 (Corrected), May 11, is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1345.
1. A draft of this letter is included in the verbatim record. A copy of the letter as sent on May 12, which is slightly different from the draft, is ibid., CF 1280.