Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XV, Berlin Crisis, 1962–1963

75. Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Weiss) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Johnson)⁰

Washington, July 11, 1962.

SUBJECT

• Berlin

1. At the Task Force Meeting this morning¹ a considerable portion of the time was devoted to discussing various signs of renewed Soviet threats to sign a peace treaty. Mr. Kohler is obviously disturbed, though his basis is more intuitive than intellectual. The Khrushchev speech and the message from Vienna reporting Kreisky’s impression of his Soviet visit are the two most tangible sources of information (Tab A).²

2. The Secretary is meeting with Dobrynin tomorrow afternoon which may be utilized to set the stage for more significant discussions with Gromyko at Geneva next week.

3. There seems to be considerable Allied apprehension over the possibility of new Soviet moves. The British have requested an Ambassadorial Group Meeting for this afternoon (this being very short notice) to discuss London’s concerns.³

4. As a follow-up from yesterday’s meeting between Nitze and Kohler,⁴ which was called for the purpose of discussing various Berlin problems, EUR has undertaken the drafting of a memorandum to Defense which would provide guidance as to probable military moves which would be required in the event of Soviet signing of a peace treaty. We have worked with EUR on this paper, however, I believe that it would be well for you to give it your personal attention since, as I mentioned to Kohler, we clearly should not consider these military actions in solely a Berlin context. He, of course, agrees. If you have any guidance with regard to the proposed memorandum to Defense (Tab B),⁵ I would appreciate receiving it. If you wish to discuss it, I am, of course, at your disposal.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/7–1162. Secret. Drafted and initialed by Weiss.
1. No other record of this meeting has been found.
2. Neither printed. For text of Khrushchev’s July 10 speech at Moscow, see Pravda, July 11, 1962. Extracts are printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, p. 710. Telegram 48 from Vienna, July 10, transmitted Kreisky’s impressions of his visit to Moscow and his view that the Soviet Union was preparing to take action leading to an East German peace treaty.
3. At the meeting at 3:30 p.m. Ormsby Gore began by saying he had requested the session because the United Kingdom believed the Soviet Union “might be moving toward a crisis situation in Berlin in the near future.” After extended discussion the Ambassadorial Group concluded that the Soviet Union was probably not moving toward a crisis over Berlin, but that increased harassment of access to Berlin could be expected. (Memorandum of conversation, July 11; Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/7–1162)
4. No other record of this meeting has been found.
5. Not printed.