740.00119 Control (Germany)/7–1148: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
1661. Department’s 2591 to London, July 71 and subsequent telegrams from Department, London and Paris re working party on western German boundaries.
There is no objection here to the meeting now suggested for July 20 at Paris. It seems fairly obvious that the news of the meeting may leak to the press as things sometimes do in Paris and that there will be exploitation thereof and distortions appearing in Soviet licensed German [Page 393] press. If this happens it will not ease our situation in Germany and in Berlin. Germans in our zone are already beginning to refer to the London decisions in terms of Versailles. However, our London policies having been adopted, we must be prepared to meet whatever resistance develops with appropriate means. I would like to say in that connection that our French friends should understand that if western Germans are in any way encouraged to oppose certain features of London such as constitutional government, the entire program may be endangered. I believe that French representatives have spoken informally to a number of Germans throwing cold water on the London proposal for constitutional government and that German elements (Bavarians for example) respond accordingly. With the French Scylla to the west and the Soviet Charybdis to the east, German Minister Presidents will tack their canvas until the outcome of the tug of war is more apparent.
Replying to Department’s question, OMGUS hopes to provide the small number of technical personnel suggested in Department’s 1199 July 7,2 for Paris working party, but specifications would be appreciated as soon as may be convenient.
Repeated London as 329, Paris as 324.