Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XV, Germany and Berlin

85. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State¹

Bonn, January 14, 1965, 10 p.m.

2613. Subject: Four-Power Council on Germany. Ref: Berlin’s 895 to Dept.²

1. The decision taken yesterday in Berlin by the Cabinet to endeavor to bring into being a standing Quadripartite Committee (Gremium) on Germany would seem, in our preliminary judgment, to lead to the following conclusions:

A. For the whole complex of domestic and foreign policy reasons cited in Embtel 2565,³ the FRG and the governing parties have concluded that the issue of some new action on the German question cannot be subordinated in this election year.

B. Despite the lack of Allied enthusiasm and the clear indications, known to the FRG, that the Sovs will not buy the idea, the FRG considers the Four-Power Council concept best suited to meet the situation it faces. From the tenor of comments emanating from official sources, the FRG is taking care to avoid any expectation of significant progress toward reunification. The general presentation is that despite Soviet intransigence, a committee should be proposed not for propagandistic purposes or in the hope of an immediate solution of the German problem, but because such a body, where the German question can be kept under continuing confidential study, is badly needed. A recurring observation is that with such a council in existence, FRG/GDR cooperation in humanitarian steps will be facilitated, moreover, the argument goes, even if rejected by the Soviets, a Western initiative will once again bring home to the world who is responsible for the continued division of Germany.

C. Having taken an official, publicized decision in favor of a council, the FRG will now have to continue to press the Western Allies for their agreement. Failure would expose the Chancellor to attacks for pursuing an illusory goal and would raise again the whole question of the degree of support the FRG can expect from its Allies.

It must be assumed that despite the setback at Paris in December, the Chancellor still considers it possible to gain Tripartite acceptance of an initiative of this type.

2. The Berlin Cabinet meeting has received prominent attention in German media, with the main focus today on the Four-Power Council decision. The other discussions in the various committee and Fraktion meetings have also highlighted Berlin as the center of German politics and policy-making this week. Thus the government’s commitment to the Allies to avoid wide publicity in connection with the Cabinet sessions, while honored prior to the meeting, has perhaps unavoidably proved of little significance since yesterday. It was just this that the British advised against in the prior consultation on the Cabinet meeting (Embtel 2550).⁴

3. Editorial comment on the Quadripartite Council decision is so far limited to Welt, which views it skeptically. It comments that “if Erhard really has in mind more than keeping the German question alive—possibly because he feels under domestic pressure—then more substantial proposals which provide a realistic basis for negotations are needed.” More editorial comment will certainly be forthcoming along this line but for the present the news coverage gives the impression that the FRG, while meeting in Berlin, has taken a positive step in the German question.

McGhee

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files,POL 32–4 GER. Confidential. Repeated to Berlin, Moscow, Paris, and London.
2. Telegram 895 from Berlin, January 13, reported on government spokesman Von Hase’s press conference. (Ibid., POL 15–2 GER W)
3. See footnote 7, Document 83 and footnotes 2 and 4, Document 84.
4. Not found.