101. Paper Prepared by the Four-Power Working Group on Germany and Berlin1
MINISTERIAL DECISIONS ON REPORT OF THE FOUR-POWER WORKING GROUP ON GERMANY AND BERLIN
July 28-August 4, 1961
The following decisions were made by the Four Foreign Ministers on the basis of the Working Group Report.
[Page 317]I. Soviet Motives and Intentions
The Ministers approved this section of the Report and agreed to give it to NATO.
They instructed the quadripartite Ambassadorial Steering Group in Washington to keep the subject of Soviet motives and intentions and the situation in East Germany under constant review.
II. Tactics Paper
There was a general discussion of this paper and especially about the question of a Western initiative toward negotiations and its timing. It was agreed to discuss this matter further through diplomatic channels.
The Ministers agreed that the question of replies to the Soviet notes of August 3 should be considered by the Ambassadorial Group.
They agreed not to give this section of the Report to NATO.
III. Substantive Political Questions
The Ministers agreed that the Ambassadorial Steering Group should work on possible negotiating positions along the lines indicated in this section of the Working Group Report.
The Ministers agreed to the addendum concerning the essential conditions for an arrangement for West Berlin.
They agreed not to give this section of the Report to NATO.
IV. Strengthening of the Forces of the Alliance
The Ministers unanimously endorsed the policy of a progressive buildup of the strength of the Alliance.
They agreed that the buildup should be Alliance-wide and should have an organized follow-up.
They agreed that the problems of military preparations should be discussed in NATO.
V. Recommendations on Economic Countermeasures
The Ministers revised this section of the Report and approved the document entitled “Recommendations on Economic Countermeasures”, which they agreed to submit to NATO. The Ministers stressed the importance of prompt action to establish the legal and administrative basis for rapid implementation of these recommended measures.
They agreed that an embargo is essentially an economic measure, while a blockade is essentially military, but that both should be considered by the Ambassadorial Group.
They directed the Ambassadorial Group to follow up on the implementation of these recommendations.
[Page 318]VI. Review of Berlin Contingency Plans
The Ministers discussed and approved this section of the Report of the Working Group and directed the Ambassadorial Group to carry out the recommendations contained in paragraphs 2 and 6 thereof.2
The Ministers agreed to expedite instructions to their representatives on the Ambassadorial Group to enable the Group to proceed without delay; and in the light of the Ministers’ discussion of the subject, to draft new directives for Live Oak and other military authorities.
The Ministers also agreed that the Ambassadorial Steering Group should put into precise form the sequence of governmental decisions required in the course of a developing crisis over Berlin, including economic sanctions, airlift, et cetera.
VII. Report of the Working Group on Information
The Ministers approved the information report and agreed that the annex thereto, covering suggested major publicity themes, should be submitted to NATO.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Germany, Berlin. Secret. The source text bears the handwritten notation: “Sent to H[yannis] P[ort] week-end of 8/4.” The source text bears no drafting information. On August 7 the Four-Power Working Group had met to revise its report on the basis of the Foreign Ministers discussions. This paper summarizes their decisions. A copy of the text of their report, as revised, is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 65 D 366, CF 1945.↩
- Paragraph 2 called for a review of existing contingency plans; paragraph 6 recommended the studying of Berlin, European, and worldwide military measures to ensure their coordination during a Berlin crisis.↩