Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969–1972

24. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State¹

Moscow, September 12, 1969, 1330Z.

4927. Subject: Soviet Reply to Berlin Probe. Ref: Moscow 4916.²

1. Following is Embassy unofficial translation of oral statement (copy of which was handed to us) made to me today by Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Semyenov on Berlin.³

2. Begin Text: In connection with the considerations set forth by the US Ambassador on the instruction of his government in the oral statement of August 7 of this year,⁴ I have been instructed to state the following.

3. The Soviet Government regards with understanding the desire expressed by the American Government concerning an improvement of the situation in West Berlin and the elimination of incidents which cause friction in this region. As has already been stated, the Soviet side would be ready for an exchange of opinions on averting complications now and in the future around West Berlin, if the powers allied with the USSR in the last war which bear their share of responsibility for the situation in West Berlin would proceed from the necessity of an approach toward this question which takes into account the interests of European security. In this connection, of course, the sovereign rights and the legitimate interests of the German Democratic Republic should be properly taken into account. It is impossible not to take into account in this connection also that the external ties of West Berlin are carried out along the lines of communication of the GDR.

4. As follows from the oral statement of the American Ambassador in Moscow, the American side assumes, to the degree in which this conforms with the known responsibility of the Four Powers, that it is also possible to facilitate a discussion between the GDR and FRG of various questions, having in mind the easing of tension in their mutual relations.

5. The constructive position, one of principle, of the Governments of the Soviet Union, the German Democratic Republic and of the other states allied with them on questions of détente and of a normalization of the situation in the center of Europe and on the continent as a whole, including the normalization of relations between the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany on the basis of principles of international law, is well known. It found its expression, in particular, in the Bucharest declaration on the strengthening of peace and security in Europe and in the Budapest appeal of European socialist states.⁵ In these documents the views of the Soviet Government were set forth on the questions broached as well as its aspiration to facilitate the solving of unsettled problems for purposes of improving the situation in Europe, or consolidating peace and European security. The Soviet Government proceeded and will proceed from this in examining the questions posed by the US Government in its statement mentioned above. End Text.

6. After handing over the text, Semyenov said that it was necessary to draw attention to the fact that the USSR did not want the FRG to use the Soviet statement for purposes of political profit. When asked if he wished to elaborate on this point, Semyenov said that the Soviet approach was businesslike and that they had found on many occasions such serious matters had been exploited by the FRG.

7. I told Semyenov we would transmit the Soviet statement to Washington.

Klosson

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 28 GER B. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to Bonn, London, Paris, USNATO, and Berlin.
2. In telegram 4916 from Moscow, September 12, the Embassy reported: “French received Soviet reply to August 7 tripartite Berlin probe this morning. Semyenov has asked us to call at 1415 local today. British have 1445 appointment. We will meet with British and French at 1700 to compare texts.” (Ibid.)
3. For a rough German translation of the Russian note, as received by the French Ambassador in Moscow on the same day, see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1969, Vol. 2, pp. 999–1001.
4. See Document 21.
5. Reference is to the declaration on European security issued on July 5, 1966, at a meeting of Warsaw Pact leaders in Bucharest, and the appeal issued at a similar meeting in Budapest on March 17, 1969. For text of the former, see Documents on Disarmament, 1966, pp. 407–420; for text of the latter, see ibid., 1969, pp. 106–109.