German Democratic Republic 745



     [3 lines of source text not declassified] A projection of this trend
to-
gether with recent developments, and obvious Soviet intent to force us
to acquiesce in political conditions to continue Mission leads to inescap-
able conclusion that political price is unacceptable.
    Defense and State have decided issuance new passes to Western
Military Liaison Missions constitutes tactical error on part of Soviets
which has presented us with clear issue not involving threat of armed
conflict on which we must take firm stand. 2 No doubt here that accept-
ance new passes (which acknowledged are still Soviet documents)
would put us on slippery slope leading to increased "GDR" interference
with function of Missions and concomitant Soviet negation of responsi-
bility for Missions. Agreed present situation, wherein we have not yet
accepted new passes, is best in which to take stand. No later opportunity
envisaged draw public attention to clearcut distinction between accept-
able and unacceptable arrangements.
    Department informed British and French today its decision to reject
new passes issued January 29-30 and demand revalidation of old
passes. We sought British and French support for US position.3
    Draft letter being prepared for signature of General Eddleman
along foregoing lines being forwarded in next numbered telegram.4
    For Bonn: Convene tripartite meeting Saturday to outline US posi-
tion and proposed action.
    For Berlin: Inform McQuail, FMLM and BRIXMIS.
    For London and Paris: Inform Foreign Office and seek support for US
position.
                                                              Herter












     A record of the conversation at which this decision was reached is ibid.,
762.0221/2-560.
    3 A memorandum of Kohler's conversation with Hood and Winckler is ibid.
    4Transmitted in telegram 1684 to Bonn, February 5, the letter protested
the violation
of the spirit and letter of the Huebner-Malinin agreement and the interjection
of political
elements into a strictly military matter, and called for the withdrawal of
the new passes
and revalidation of the old ones. (Ibid.)