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336

SECRET

C. P. (49) 237

16TH NOVEMBER, 1949

CABINET

COPY NO.

31

GERMANY: MEETING OF UNITED KINGDOM,

UNITED STATES AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS, 9TH AND 10TH NOVEMBER, 1949

Memorandum by the Secretary of State

for Foreign Affairs

The establishment of the High Commission and of the German Federal Government at Bonn in September marked the end of a stage in our policy towards Germany. The progress made during that stage was founded on a whole complex of agreements negotiated between the United States Government, the French Government and ourselves in June, 1948, and April, 1949. These agreements covered such matters as the Occupation Statute and the German Basic Law, the establishment of the International Authority for the Ruhr and the Military Security Board, reparations and prohibited industries.

2.

With the establishment of the High Commission and the German Federal Government a number of new problems in Germany began to emerge. Some of these, particularly those relating to the dismantling programme, called for urgent con- sideration by the three Western Occupying Powers. I there- fore decided to invite M. Schuman and Mr. Acheson to take the opportunity afforded by the meetings in Paris during the first week in November of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty Powers to have a discussion with me on the situation in Germany with a view to reaching agreement on our policy and programme for the next stage and on the steps to be taken to bring the German people and the German Federal Government by progressive stages into close association with the West, I felt that the need to hold such a meeting at a very early date was made stronger by the reports received from the British Zone of Germany which showed that the dismantling programme, particu- larly in respect of certain of the longer-term plants, was meeting with increasingly serious opposition both from German officials and the German people. Although the dismantling policy had been agreed between the United States Government, the French Government and ourselves, by far the greatest burden fell upon the British Zone.

3.

Mr. Acheson and M. Schuman at once accepted my proposal to hold a meeting, and this took place in Paris on 9th and 10th November. The agenda was as follows:

I.

II.

Programme for Germany until time comes for the Occupation Statute to be reviewed.

Association with the Western world.

(a) Conditions under which Germany could participate

in the Council of Europe including the question of the participation of the Saar.

Page 67019f 1097many's participation in Page 79£1997ional

agencies and organisations, including technical organisations.

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