722 Foreign Relations, 1958-1960, Volume IX



272. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in
      Germany

                                Washington, June 17, 1958, 4:22 p.m.

    3226. Joint State-Defense message. (A) Unnumbered USMLM tel
from Berlin June 16 re McQuail-Winzer meeting; (B) Berlin's 1353;
(C) Bonn's 3746; (D) Bonn's 3749.1
    Appreciate Ambassador's comments Bonn reftel (C) and concur
fully (a) that signing bilateral agreement proposed by Winzer would
entail serious danger undermining our policy re GDR and (b) that
would be preferable rather than accede to agreement to raise return of
Army personnel and helicopter again with Soviets in diplomatic chan-
nels.
    Therefore recommend McQuail be instructed act as follows in June
18 meeting with Winzer:
    1. Should begin by reading statement along following lines:
    (a) I have documentation from both senior military and senior dip-
lomatic representatives of US in Germany establishing my full authority
to deal with this question as representative of US Government.
(McQuail should then present both credentials furnished by General
Hodes and by Ambassador Bruce; text as suggested Deptel 3208 to
Bonn, signature modified as suggested Bonn's 3733.2 FYI. Our only con-
cern re signature was to avoid any reference to Federal Republic.)
    (b) I have shown text of your proposed agreement to my superiors
and have been instructed to inform you that they regard a document of
this nature as entirely unnecessary and abnormal and your insistence on
it as an attempt to delay and confuse simple question of returning per-
sonnel and aircraft by interjection of procedural difficulties and political
issues. Such a document is wholly unacceptable and I have been in-
structed to refuse to sign it.
    (c) I am however ready to meet all normal and reasonable require-
ments for arranging return of personnel and aircraft. I am today to reim-
burse here and now and in advance the various items of expense
mentioned by you. (Assume arrangements can be made to have
McQuail carry cash funds with him and to turn them over to Winzer on

    Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762B.5411/6-1758. Confidential;
Niact.
Drafted by Creel and McKiernan; cleared by Lisle, Kohler, L, and the Department
of De-
fense; and approved by Murphy. Also sent niact to Berlin and USAREUR Heidelberg
and
repeated to Paris, London, and Moscow.
    1 The USMLM telegram is Document 271. Telegram 1353, June 16, transmitted
the
text of the three-article draft agreement. (Department of State, Central
Files,
762B.5411/6-1658) In telegram 3746, June 17, Ambassador Bruce stated that
the point had
been reached where the United States should either sign an intergovernmental
agreement
or break off the discussions and attempt to force the Soviet Union back into
the picture.
(Ibid., 762B.5411 /6-1758) Telegram 3749, June 17, asked for precise instructions
on receipt
of documentation on the chance that Winzer agreed to accept McQuail's credentials
at
their June 18 meeting. (Ibid.)
    2Dated June 14 and 16, respectively. (Ibid., 762B.5411/6-1458 and 762B.5411/6-
1658)