Editorial Note
On June 9 Secretary of State Marshall issued a statement to the press announcing and explaining the approval and acceptance by the United States Government of the recommendations of the London Conference on Germany. For the text of the Secretary’s statement, see Department of State Bulletin, June 20, 1948, page 810. Previously, on June 7, the Department of State had issued to the press a lengthy statement explaining the background of the London Conference recommendations. For the text of this earlier statement, see ibid., page 811.
[Page 325]The Department of State had considered it desirable that the United States announcement of approval of the Conference recommendations follow the British announcement, in order to avoid the impression that the United States was forcing the pace on the London program on Germany. The British agreed, and Foreign Secretary Bevin read a statement to the House of Commons on the afternoon of June 9 announcing British acceptance of the London recommendations. For the text of Bevin’s statement, see Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th series, volume 451, columns 2166–2168.
In an official Benelux communiqué issued at The Hague on June 14, the Governments of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg announced approval of the London Conference recommendations. Formal notification was also transmitted to the United States, British, and French Governments.