Status of Berlin, August-December 1959 135



53. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the
     Department of State

                               Moscow, December 17, 1959, 5 p.m.

    1683. German Amb, who has just returned from Bonn, told me
Chancellor well satisfied his meeting with de Gaulle.' Amb said de
Gaulle had assured Chancellor French would make strong effort pre-
vent Khrushchev from making propaganda out of his visit to France.
Amb agreed with me that there were many signs that Khrushchev
would attempt make deal with de Gaulle and particularly to split Ger-
mans and French but said Germans were convinced attempt would not
succeed. Amb pointed out Khrushchev did not control situation in Alge-
ria which was one of primary French interests and he thought there was
little he could offer French.
    Amb said Chancellor was obsessed with necessity of winning '61
elections in order prevent disaster for Germany and all he had accom-
plished thus far. For this reason Chancellor could make no concession
on Berlin, which was an issue clearly understood in Germany and rest of
world, and Chancellor would insist that if Berlin were to be discussed it
should be within framework of the broader German problem. When I
suggested that Chancellor should also take into account effect on elec-
tions of failure to make any progress at summit meeting and consequent
likelihood of Sov conclusion separate peace treaty, Amb said he fully
agreed but inquired what US thought could be done to head off separate
treaty. I replied I thought Germans were in best position to answer this
since their interests would be primarily involved. I added however that
it seemed to me personally possible that a package offer could be de-
vised involving inter alia creation of all-German committee with com-
mitment for elections (along lines our Geneva proposal) at end of fixed
period if committee failed to bring about reunification. I pointed out that
while commitment for elections might not be worth much it would gain
considerable time and I thought Sovs would adhere to agreement not to
conclude separate treaty if this were made part of package. To my sur-
prise Kroll expressed great interest in working out something along this
line and urged that I submit it to my govt. (Kroll has always been unwill-
ing to make suggestions to Chancellor which he thinks latter might not
welcome.) Kroll said Chancellor thought only field in which progress
could be made at summit was disarmament but he agreed with my esti-
mate that it was unlikely that sufficient progress could be made on dis-


    Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/12-1759. Secret; Priority;
Eyes
Only. Received December 19 at 2:53 p.m. Repeated priority to Paris, London,
and Bonn.
    1 See Document 45.