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DOCUMENTS ON GERMANY, 1944-59
tern of European security. I think, in order that we can really pro-
ceed in a businesslike way, which I know we all want, that it would be
extremely useful if the Soviet Union would show us the other side of
its coin, the one that has the pattern of German reunification. Then
we can see whether there is a basis of agreement there. Because in
our case, it has been made clear, German reunification is the premise
of our proposed security treaty.
If we cannot reach agreement about the reunification of Germany,
then obviously our security proposals are irrelevant because they are
predicated upon the reunification of Germany, and in that case it is
academic to attempt to elaborate proposals because the foundation
may not exist. But if, as I hope, a foundation exists in our being
able to find agreement about the reunification of Germany, then the
hypothetical questions which have been put can be developed because
we will know on what premise it is permissible to proceed.
Statement at Geneva by Foreign Minister Molotov and Revised
Soviet Draft Treaty on Security in Europe, October 31, 1955 1
Mr. Chairman, we have had an exchange of opinions on the pro-
posal by the Soviet Union on the establishment of a system of collec-
tive security in Europe as well as on the relevant proposal by France,
Great Britain and the USA. This exchange has shown that the
necessary agreement among the members of the Meeting on such an
important problem as that of ensuring security in Europe is still
lacking. Though all members of the Meeting stated their desire to
seek agreed ways to solve this problem, the difference in the approach
to its solution has nevertheless become evident.
The Soviet Government is of the opinion, as it was heretofore,'that
the interests of improvement of peace in Europe are best satisfied by
the establishment of such a system of security in Europe, in which
all those European states that wish to participate in it, irrespective of
their social and state order, including the United States of America,
would participate.
The USSR Government is convinced that it is this path, the path of
joint efforts of European states, instead of the preservation of military
groupings, that is capable of ensuring stable guarantees for the peace-
ful development of European nations.
'In- spite of the fact that we have not yet reached the necessary
agreement among us on this point, the Soviet Delegation holds that
possibilities of achieving positive results on European security at
our Meeting are not exhausted.
The Soviet Delegation proposes to discuss the possibility of con-
cluding a security treaty for Europe with the participation, in the
first instance, of a more limited group of the states concerned. It is
known that the Directives agreed upon by the Heads of Government
instruct us to consider various proposals aimed at achieving Euro-
pean security, including a security pact both for Europe and "for a
part of Europe". In raising this question, the Soviet Government
takes account of those constructive suggestions that were made at the
Geneva Conference of the Heads of Government, in particular by Sir
'Ibid., pp. 76-82.
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