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66            I)OCUMENTS ON GERMANY, 1944-59
Statement by the Western Foreign Ministers, on Allied Rights in
Berlin, May 13, 19501
TRIPARTITE STATEMENT ON BERLIN
The three Western Occupation Powers will continue to uphold their
rights in Berlin. They are resolved now as in the past to protect the
democratic rights of the inhabitants and will cooperate with the Ger-
man authorities to improve to the utmost the economic position of
the three Western sectors. Meanwhile the three Governments will
continue to seek the reunification of the city in free elections in order
that Berlin may take its due place in a free and united Germany.
Declaration by the Western Foreign Ministers, on Free Elections,
May 14,1950 2
In reaffirming the determination of their Governments to wtork
together, in cooperation with the German Federal Governinewit and
all like-minded Powers, for the unification of Germany, the three
Foreign Ministers agreed that German unity should be achieved on
the basis of the following principles:
(a) A freely-elected all-German government.
(b) Individual freedom of movement, freedom from arbitrary
arrest and detention, freedom of association and assembly, free-
dom of speech, press and radio throughout Germany.
(c) Freedom of action throughout Germany for all democratic
political parties.
(d) Independence of the judiciary.
(e) Prohibition throughout Germany of political secret police
and police formations constituting a military force.
(f) Assurance of German economic unity through action by a
German government on matters such as a unified currency and
customs, and through quadripartite agreement on matters such
as cessation of reparations from current production, and pro-
hibited and limited industries.
(g) Surrender and disposal, in accordance with appropriate
German legislation, of any industrial enterprise in Germany
whose ownership or control was acquired after May 8, 1945 by
or on behalf of any foreign Power, unless such acquisition has
quadripartite approval and the interest so approved is subjected
to German Law.
(h) Establishment of quadripartite supervision through a
four-Power Commission, exercising its reserve powers in such a
way as to permit the German Government to function effectively.
The Foreign Ministers further agreed that the first step toward
the restoration of German unity should be the holding throughout
Germany of free elections to a Constituent Assembly. They, accord-
ingly, welcome and endorse the resolution of the German Federal
Republic of March 22, 1950, inviting free all-German elections for a
Released at London. Ibid., June 26, 1950, p. 1039.
2 Ibid., June 5, 1950, p. 885. A copy of this declaration was transmitted
to the Chairman
of the Soviet Control Commission on May 25, 1950 (infra).