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DOCUMENTS ON GERMANY, 1944-59
publics and the German Democratic Republic," which after ratifica-
tion by the Parliaments of both countries has come into force. Ac-!
cording to the treaty, relations between the Soviet Union and the
German Democratic Republic are settled on a basis of full equality
mutual respect of sovereignty, and non interference in internal af-
fairs. The treaty provides for the cooperation of the Soviet Union
and the German Democratic Republic in the interests of guaranteeing
peace and security in Europe, and the reestablishment of the unity of
Germany on a peace-loving and democratic basis.
In concluding the treaty with the German. Democratic Republic,
the Soviet Government at the same time made the decision on the
abolition of the function of the High Commissioner of the U.S.S.R.
in Germany, and also on the termination of the validity on territory
of the German Democratic Republic of laws, directives, and decrees
of the former Control Council in Germany issued by the occupying
powers in the course of exercising rights of occupation of Germany.
At the same time, considering the actual situation which has come
,about at the present time, when oin the territory of Germany there
exist two independent sovereign states, the Soviet Union established
diplomatic relations with the German Federal Republic. Thus, the
Soviet Union has at the present time diplomatic relations with both
states existing on the territory of Germany.
The Government of the United States of America has diplomatic
relations with one German state-the German Federal Republic-
with which it has concluded well-known treaties in violation of the
obligations which it assumed under the four-power decisions in
relation to Germany. Absence of normal relations of the United
States of America with the other part of Germany-with the German
Democratic Republic-cannot, naturally, serve as an obstacle to the
proper regulation of relations between the Soviet Union and the
German Democratic Republic.
In signing the treaty on the relations between the U.S.S.R. and the
German Democratic Republic, the parties proceeded from the premise
that the German Democratic Republic exercises its jurisdiction on
territory under its sovereignty, which, of course, also applies to com-
munications on that territory.
As for control over the movement between the German Federal
Republic and West Berlin of military personnel and freight of gar-
risons of the U.S.A., Great Britain, and France, quartered in West
Berlin, in negotiations between the Governments of the U.S.S.R.
and the German Democratic Republic, it was stipulated that this
control would henceforth be carried out by the command of the
Soviet military forces in Germany temporarily until the achievement
of a suitable agreement.
It is self-understood that, in concluding the-above-mentioned treaty,
the Governments of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic
Republic took into consideration the obligations which both have
under existing international agreements relating to Germany as a
whole.
In connection with the foregoing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the U.S.S.R. has the honor to send the Embassy for its informa-
tion texts of the "Treaty on Relations Between the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and the German Democratic Republic" and docu-
ments connected therewith.
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