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DOCUMENTS QN GERMANY, 1944-59                  69
without the deliberate approval of the Soviet Government, and it is
an action squarely in opposition to the efforts being made by the
United States and other nations to create a stable and lasting peace.
Representatives of the Soviet Government have, on numerous oc-
casions, spoken of the Soviet Government's desire for peace. Such
verbal protestations, however, can hardly be expected to receive
credence among the free peoples of the world when the Soviet Gov-
ernment is simultaneously creating a military force of considerable
size and strength in Germany in violation of its solemn international
commitments. By this and other like actions the Soviet Government
has destroyed world confidence in the sincerity of its promises and
has created throughout the world widespread doubt as to its pacific
intentions. If the Soviet Government wishes to restore in some meas-
ure international confidence in its alleged attachment to peace, it can-
not fail to dissolve immediately the militarized units which it has set
up in Eastern Germany.
Letter f rom the United States Commandant in Berlin to the Chair-
man of the Soviet Control Commission, on Free Elections, May
259 19501
1U.S. NOTE TO SOVIET UNION
DEAAR GENERAL CHU IKOV: Throughout the five year period during
which our two governments have participated in the occupation of
Germany, repeated efforts have been nmade to effect the political and
economic unity of the country. The matter was recently reviewed
again by the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and
the United States at London. Their conclusions on the matter of Ger-
man unification and the manner in which it might be accomplished are
attached. (See Annex A.) This document has been transmitted to
the Chancellor of the German Federal Republic.
You will note that the Ministers agreed that the formation of an
all-German Government on the basis of the principles set forth in their
statement would prepare the way for a peace settlement with Germany.
In this connection, you will also have noted that in the public com-
munique released by the Ministers on May 14, it was stated that the
Western Powers did not contemplate the conclusion of a separate peace
treaty with the Federal Republic: one consideration in the formula-
tion of this conclusion was that the Western Powers believe that a
separate peace treaty with one or more zones of occupation connotes
acceptance of a concept of a more permanent partition of Germany.
The Western Powers do not wish to associate themselves with any such
concept.
You will also note that the Ministers endorsed the resolution of the
Federal Republic under date of March 22, which invited all-German
elections to a National Constituent Assembly under conditions found
to be acceptable to my government. A copy of the text of this resolu-
1Ibid., June 5, 1i95O0, pp. 884-885. The letter was sent by Major General
Maxwell D.
Taylor on behalf of the American High Commissioner; the British and French
High Com-
missioners sent similar letters. For the texts of the declaration of March
22, 19,50 by the
German Federal Republic and the declaration of May 14, 1950 by the Western
Foreign Min-
isters, enclosed with this letter, see supra. General Chuikov did not reply
to the letter.
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