Page 186

DOCUMENTS i- ON GERMANY, 19'44-5 9
sponsorship of activities by armed civilian groups or through other
threats directed at the Western Sectors.
Letter from Premier Bulganin to President Eisenhower, on
Reduction of Foreign Forces in Germany, June 6,19561
[Extract]
*        *        *        -*       *        *        *
Guided by the high aims of strengthening peace among peoples, the
Soviet Government decided to take the initiative and, without waiting
for a disarmament agreement, make a large cut in the armed forces
of the- Soviet Union, amounting to 1,200,000 men, this in addition to
the 1955 cut of 640,000 men. The armaments and combat materiel
of the armed forces of the U.S.S.R., as well as the military expendi-
tures of the Soviet Union in the U.S.S.R. state budget, will be cut
accordingly.
In line with this decision, 63 divisions and separate brigades are
being demobilized, including three air divisions and other combat
units numbering over 30,000 men stationed on the territory of the
German Democratic Republic. We of course understand that the
withdrawal from Germany of the said number of Soviet troops does
not solve the question entirely. This measure of the Soviet Govern-
ment is only the first step. However, we base-our-thinking on the
premise that if the Governments of the United States, England, and
France, which have their troopson German territory, would for their
part also take steps to reduce their armed forces in Germany, 'then
this would undoubtedly prepare the ground for more decisive steps in
this matter. At the same time we have in mind that such measures
on the part of the governments of the four powers could later lead
to an agreement on a sharp reduction in the foreign armed. forces in-
Germany or the withdrawal of foreign -armed forces from German
territory.
Joint Communique on German Question by Chancellor Adenauer
and Secretary of State Dulles, June 13, 19562
The visit of Chancellor Adenanuer to Washington has afforded an
opportunity for a full exchange of views between him and Secretary
of State Dulles. This has permitted the Chancellor and the Secretary
of State to undertake a broad review of the world situation and of
problems confronting their governments in the international field.
The Chancellor was accompanied by State Secretary Hallstein.
Foremost among the matters discussed were the question of German
reunification, the most recent events in the Soviet Union, and the
further development and strengthening of the Atlantic community.
" Department of State Bulletin, August 20, 1956, p. 301. The President
replied to this
letter on August 4, 1956 (infra). Premier Bulganin enclosed a copy of the
Soviet state-
ment of May 14, 1956 on the reduction of forces (ibid., pp. 301-305).
2 Department of State press release 3.22, June 13, 1956.
186