Office of the Historian

73. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1

Washington, March 26, 1970.

SUBJECT

  • Four Power Talks on Berlin

The first session of the Quadripartite talks on Berlin will take place on Thursday, March 26. Secretary Rogers sent over for your approval the text of the opening statement by Ambassador Rush (Tab A).2 Since the statement was in full conformity with the position already approved by you, and in view of the urgent time pressure, I felt it was not necessary to take your time in approving this specific statement.3 These opening remarks by Ambassador Rush, agreed with the FRG, UK and French, contain the following points:

  • —we have welcomed and permitted the establishment of economic, social, juridical and monetary ties between the FRG and West Berlin, although we continue to prohibit the incorporation of West Berlin into the FRG’s political structure;
  • —we seek improvements in three areas: (a) freer communication between the two parts of Berlin, (b) procedures for assuring the free movement of German traffic between Berlin and the FRG, and (c) an end to the restrictions on West Berlin’s trade and travel in the Eastern European countries.

In reaching Western agreement on the text, one substantive point of difference arose. We and the FRG desired to propose to the Soviets that German representatives from East and West Germany and both parts of Berlin be authorized to consider questions relating to access to Berlin and intra-Berlin communications. The French and British, however, [Page 197] opposed this approach. They considered that the Western side should not propose—at least at the first session—involving Germans in matters falling within the responsibility of the Four Powers. In the face of their firm position, we agreed to drop this point.

We shall propose that the second session of the Four Powers talks be held on April 21—following Chancellor Brandt’s visit to Washington. I have suggested to Secretary Rogers that you would be interested in his assessment of the results of the first session and would wish to review any substantial modifications of the US position you previously approved.4

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 690, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Berlin), Vol. II. Secret. Sent for information. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Sonnenfeldt forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger on March 25. (Ibid).↩
  2. Tab A is a memorandum from Rogers to the President, March 24; attached but not printed. Another copy is ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 38–6.↩
  3. Upon receiving Rogers’ memorandum, Kissinger instructed his staff to “be sure you move paper to SecState immediately.” (Memorandum from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger, March 24; ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 690, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Berlin), Vol. II) Lord informed the Department of State on March 24 that the opening statement had been “approved by the President.” (Notation on memorandum from Rogers to the President, March 24; ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 38–6) Kissinger, in addition, formally notified Rogers in an undated memorandum: “The recommendations contained in your memorandum of March 24 have been approved. The President will be interested in your assessment of the first session of the talks, and wishes to review any substantial modifications of the position approved on March 13.” (Ibid.)↩
  4. No assessment from Rogers to Nixon has been found. In telegram 487 from Berlin, March 27, the Mission reported: “First meeting of quadripartite talks on Berlin produced no surprises. Atmosphere was congenial and Soviets were on best behavior.” (Ibid., POL 28 GER B) The Mission forwarded an informal translation of Abrasimov’s opening remarks in telegram 478 from Berlin, March 26. (Ibid.) The Soviet and Allied Ambassadors agreed to meet again on April 28. For a published account of the meeting, see Sutterlin and Klein, Berlin, pp. 123–125.↩