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Documents on Germany, 1944-1959: background documents on Germany, 1944-1959, and a chronology of political developments affecting Berlin, 1945-1956
(1959)
Statement by the American, British, and French foreign ministers, on the Soviet-GDR agreements, September 28, 1955, pp. 158-159
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Note from the American Embassy to the Soviet Foreign Ministry, on the Soviet-GDR agreements, October 3, 1955, p. 159
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Note from the Soviet Foreign Ministry to the American Embassy, on the Soviet-GDR agreements, October 18, 1955, pp. 159-160
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Page 159
DOCUMENTS ON GERMANY, 1944-59 They wish in the first place to emphasize that these agreements cannot affect the obligations or responsibilities of the Soviet Union under agreements and arrangements between the Three Powers and the Soviet Union on the subject of Germany and Berlin. The Soviet Union remains responsible for the carrying out of these obligations. Secondly, the three Foreign Ministers reaffirm that the Federal Republic of Germany is the only German Government freely and legitimately constituted and therefore entitled to speak for Germany as the representative of the German people in international affairs. These-three governments do not recognize the East German regime nor the existence of a state in the Soviet zone. Finally, as regards a statement which has recently appeared in the Soviet press on the frontiers of Germany, the three Foreign Ministers reaffirm the repeatedly expressed position of their Governments that the final determination of the frontiers of Germany must await a peace settlement for the whole of Germany. Note from the American Embassy to the Soviet Foreign Ministry, on the Soviet-GDR Agreements, October 3,19551 The Government of the United States of America, in agreement with the Governments of the United Kingdom and France, wishes to make known its position with regard to the agreements concluded at Moscow on the 20th of September 1955 between Marshal Bulganin and Mr. Grotewohl, as published in the press. -The three Governments declare that these agreements cannot affect in any respect or in any way the obligations or responsibilities of the U.S.S.R. under agreements and arrangements on the subject of Germany, including Berlin, previously concluded between France, the United States, the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. The three Governments consider that the U.S.S.R. remains bound by the engagements which it has assumed vis-a-vis the Three Powers concerning Germany, and that, in particular, the letters exchanged between Mr. Zorin and Mr. Bolz on the 20th of September 1955 can- not have the effect of discharging the U.S.S.R. from the responsi- bilities which it has assumed in matters concerning transportation and communications between the different parts of Germany, includ- ing Berlin.' Note from the Soviet Foreign Ministry to the American Embassy, on the Soviet-GDR Agreements, October 18, 19552 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and in connection with the latter's note of Octo- ber 3 has the honor to state the following: On September 20 of this year the Government of the Soviet Union and the Government of the German Democratic Republic concluded "A Treaty on Relations Between the Union of Soviet Socialist Re- 'Ibid., October 17, 19,55, p. 616. The British and French Embassies delivered similar notes on the same day. For the text of the Soviet reply of October 18, see infra. 2Ibid., November 7, 1955, pp. 734-735.. For the text of the American reply of October 27, see infra. 159
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