294. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State1
Moscow, October 6, 1968,
1510Z.
5894. Ref: State 250963.2 Subj: Allied declaration on Berlin.
- 1.
- In view of Soviet concern over Western reaction to Czechoslovak affair, I think there is a good possibility that West Germans can get away with the various governmental and party meetings scheduled to be held in Berlin without serious Soviet reaction. If in addition to holding these meetings the Allies issue the proposed declaration, the chances of strong [Page 761] Soviet and East German action will be greatly enhanced. If declaration is to be made at all I think it would better be made in response to Soviet or East German statements in protest to the meetings.
- 2.
- As for proposed text, the statement that Allies will accept no interference with passage of Germans and commerce between Berlin and Federal Republic sounds rather hollow in view of fact that GDR has interfered with passage NDP members and others. Moreover, this passage speaks of Berlin and not West Berlin and we have certainly accepted in fact GDR control of West German access to East Berlin. If this paragraph applies only to West Berlin, statement that Three Powers’ authority in Berlin (not Four Powers’) implies that we are similarly prepared to accept Soviet decisions in East Berlin. Although we have not been able to do anything about Soviet actions there, I wonder if we should weaken our right to protest. Finally, I should think proposed declaration would weaken our ability to keep West German activities in West Berlin within bounds.
- 3.
- For these reasons I believe we should not make any declaration unless forced to do so by Soviets or East Germans.
Thompson