Central (C): General (C). Political Exchanges Leading Towards Four-Power Talks on the Future of Germany

A file containing items relating to German reunification and connected issues. Issues discussed in the file include translation of a letter from Konrad Adenauer, the German chancellor, containing a declaration about reunification. Documents in the file also discuss British, French and American responses to the declaration; a letter from Adenauer about proposed four-power talks; the European Defence Community (E.D.C.) and Western unity at the 1953 Washington talks between the American, British, and French foreign ministers; German press coverage of the fall of Lavrentii Beriya, First Deputy Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers; the agreement of a final communiqué from the Washington talks; amendments to the note to be sent to the Soviets following the Washington talks; the invitation to the Soviet Union to attend four-power talks; and the French position regarding the four-party talks and the ratification of the E.D.C.