The Soviet Union and the German Question September 1958 – June 1961

Since the end of World War II Germany and Berlin, in particular, have pro­ vided the Soviet Union with convenient points on which to apply pressure upon the West. In September 1955 the Russians formally terminated the occupation status of their zone and recognized the "sovereignty" of the "German Democratic Republic", but in doing so they reserved to the Soviet Army control over the movement of British, French, and American military personnel and freight between West Berlin and the Federal German Re­ public which the Western Big Three had recognized as a sovereign state in 1954· In September 1958 the Soviet Union began exerting new pressure upon the West to alter the status of Berlin and Germany. Its initial moves sug­ gested the Russians were primarily interested in concluding a peace treaty with a divided Germany and making West Berlin a so-called "free city- unilaterally if need be - by the end of May 1959. However, intensive diplomatic maneuvering on both sides soon revealed the Russian position to be more flexible than originally indicated and one of its primary goals to be the calling of a summit conference which the Soviet Union had sought since 1956. Shortly before the expiration of N. S. Khrushchov's November 27, 1958, six-month "ultimatum," the Big Four had reached sufficient agreement to convene a Foreign Ministers' Conference. However, after three months of fruitless negotiations it produced only deadlock.

I.- Document 1 German Democratic Republic’s Note to the Soviet Union Outlining Proposals for a Peace Treaty (September 5, 1958)..- Document 2 Soviet Note to the United States Concerning the Proposals of the German Democratic Republic for a Peace Treaty (September 18, 1958)..- Document 3 N. S. Khrushchov’s Replies to Questions by A. E. Johann, a West German Journalist (September 25, 1958)..- Document 4 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech at Soviet-Polish Friendship Meeting (November 10, 1958)..- Document 5 Pravda Article by “Observer”: “There Can Only Be One Solution to the Problem of Berlin.” (November 18, 1958)..- Document 6 Soviet Note to the United States on the Berlin Question (November 27, 1958)..- Document 7 N. S. Khrushchov’s Kremlin Press Conference on the Berlin Question (November 27, 1958)..- II.- Document 1 TASS Statement on the Berlin Question (December 12, 1958)..- Document 2 Soviet Statement Concerning the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Council Meeting (December 13, 1958)..- Document 3 N. S. Khrushchov’s Replies to Questions from Hans Kempski, Correspondent of the West German Newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (December 15, 1958)..- Document 4 Foreign Minister Gromyko’s Statement on Berlin to the Supreme Soviet Session (December 25, 1958)..- Document 5 Soviet Draft Peace Treaty for Germany and the Accompanying note to the United States (January 10, 1959)..- Document 6 A. I. Mikoyan’s Address Before the National Press Club during His Visit to the United States (January 19, 1959). (Excerpts)..- Document 7 A. I. Mikoyan’s Kremlin Press Conference After Returning From the United States (January 24, 1959). (Excerpts)..- Document 8 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech at Tula: “The Soviet Union’s Position is Today Stronger than Ever Before.” (February 17, 1959). (Exceprts)..- Document 9 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech offering Britain a Twenty Year Treaty (February 24, 1959). (Excperts).- Document 10 Soviet Note to the United States Concerning the Draft Peace Treaty for Germany (March 2, 1959)..- Document 11 Khrushchov-Macmillan Moscow Communiqué (March 3, 1959)..- III.- Document 1 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech at Leipzig (March 5, 1959). (Excerpts)..- Document2 N. S. Khrushchov’s Berlin Speech: “No More Important Task than Ensuring Peace” (March 9, 1959)..- Document 3 N. S. Khrushchov’s Kremlin Press Conference on the Berlin Question (March 19, 1959)..- Document 4 Soviet Note to Britain on Calling a Foreign Ministers’ Conference and a Summit Conference (March 30, 1959)..- Documents 5 Soviet Notes to the German Democratic Republic and the Federal German Republic Concerning the Foreign Ministers’ and Summit Conferences (March 30, 1959)..- Documents 6 Soviet Notes to the German Democratic Republic and the Federal German Republic Concerning the Foreign Ministers’ and Summit Conferences (March 30, 1959)..- Document7 Soviet Note to the United States Concerning Violations of Flight Regulations between West Berlin and the Federal German Republic (April 4, 1959)..- Document 8 Soviet Press Comment in Moscow Newspapers on the German Social Democratic Party’s Plan for Solution of the German Problem (April 5, 1959)..- Document 9 Soviet Note to the United States Concerning Plans for the Nuclear Arming of West Germany (April 21, 1959)..- Document 10 Comminuqué of the Foreign Ministers of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (April 28, 1959)..- Document 11 Soviet Note to the United States Concerning Nuclear Weapons for West Germany and Other NATO Countries. (May 23, 1959)..- Document 12 Soviet Note to the Federal German Republic Concerning the Arming of the Bundeswehr with Nuclear Weapons (May 23, 1959)..- Document 13 A. A. Gromyko’s Statement on June 28 Summing Up the First Stage of the Foreign Ministers’ Conference..- Document 14 TASS Announcement of N. S. Khrushchov’s Visit to the United States (August 4, 1959)..- Document 15 N. S. Khrushchov’s Kremlin Press Conference (August 5, 1959). (Excerpts).- IV.- Document 1 Khrushchov-Eisenhower Camp David Communiqué (September 27, 1959)..- Document 2 N. S. Khrushchov’s Washington Press Conference (September 27, 1959). (Excerpts).- Document 3 N. S. Khrushchov TASS Statement about the Summit Conference (September 29, 1959)..- Document 4 TASS Statement on the Summit Conference (October 23, 1959)..- Document 5 Soviet Note to the United States Protesting Plans to Establish a Radio Station in West Berlin (November 12, 1959)..- Document 6 TASS Statement Concerning Remarks by Chancellor Adenauer about West Berlin (November 18, 1959)..- Document 7 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech in Budapest (December 1, 1959)..- Document 8 Soviet Statement to the Federal German Republic Concerning Rearming (December 14, 1959)..- Document 9 N. S. Khrushchov’s Message to Dr. Adenauer (January 28, 1960)..- Document 10 Statement of the Soviet Ambassador A. A. Smirnov to Members of the West German Social Democratic Party About a Peace Treaty and the Status of West Berlin (January 13, 1960)..- Document 11 Communiqué of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (February 4, 1960). (Excerpts).- Document 12 N. S Khrushchov’s Indonesian Press Conference (February 29, 1960). (Excerpts).- Documents 13 Soviet Notes to the Federal German Republic and Great Britain Concerning West German Bases in Spain (March 4, 1960)..- Documents 14 Soviet Notes to the Federal German Republic and Great Britain Concerning West German Bases in Spain (March 4, 1960)..- Document 15 N. S Khrushchov’s Speech to Members of French Parliamentary Groups (March 25, 1960)..- Document 16 N. S. Khrushchov’s Paris Press Conference (April 2, 1960). (Excerpts).- Document 17 Khrushchov-de Gaulle Joint Communiqué (April 3, 1960)..- Document 18 N. S. Khrushchov’s Report to the Soviet People on His French Visit (April 4, 1960). (Excerpts).- Document 19 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech at Baku Celebrating the Fortieth Anniversary of Soviet Azerbaijan (April 25, 1960)..- Document 20 N. S. Khrushchov’s Informal Press Conference concerning the U2 Affair (May 11, 1960). (Excerpts).- V.- Document 1 N. S. Khrushchov’s Speech at the Summit Conference (May 16, 1960)..- Document 2 N. S. Khrushchov’s Berlin Speech (May 20, 1960)..- Document 3 N. S. Khrushchov’s Moscow Press Conference (June 3, 1960). (Excerpts).- Document 4 Soviet Notes to the United States and the Federal German Republic Concerning the Supplying of Polaris Guided Missiles to the West German Army. ( July 19, 1960)..- Document 5 Soviet Note to the United States Protesting the Decision by the Federal German Republic to Create a Supervisory Council for Radio Broadcasts in West Berlin (July 28, 1960)..- Document 6 N. S. Khrushchov’s Press Conference at the Luncheon of the United Nations Journalists’ Association (October 7, 1960). (Excerpts).- Document 7 Joint Statement by the Governments of the German Democratic Republic, Poland, the USSR, and Czechoslovakia Regarding West German Militarism (October 13, 1960)..- Document 8 Statement by the Head of the Soviet Government Trade Delegation After the Federal German Republic Refusal to Sign a New Trade Agreement. (December 14, 1960)..- Document 9 Pravda Article by “Observer” Concerning President Kennedy’s “State of the Union” Message: “Peaceful co-existence is the only sensible way” (February 5, 1961)..- Document 10 Soviet Aide-Memoire to Chancellor Adenauer Concerning a Peace Treaty with Germany (February 17, 1961)..- Document 11 Izvestia Editorial: “We Wish Success to the Meeting in Vienna.” (June 3, 1961)..- Document 12 The Khrushchov-Kennedy Vienna Conference June 3–4, 1961..- Document 13 Soviet Statement Protesting Western “Provocation” in West Berlin (June 8, 1961)..- Document 14 Memorandum Handed President Kennedy by N. S. Khrushchov in Vienna Concerning Berlin (June 3–4, 1961)..- Document 15 N. S. Khrushchov’s Television Speech to the Russian People Concerning His Vienna Meeting with President Kennedy (June 15, 1961)..- Chronology.- Selected Bibliography.- Note on Sources.