Memorandum of Conversation Between the Head of the Far Eastern Department in the East German Foreign Ministry Liebermann and Chinese Ambassador Peng Guangwei on China's Intention to Establish Diplomatic Presence in West Berlin

[GDR Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Far East Department

China Section

Berlin, December 18, 1973

Memorandum 

about a Conversation between Gen. Liebermann, head of the Far Eastern Department, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the DDR Peng Guangwei

December 13, 1973

Gen. Liebermann requested the discussion. The participants were Comrade Dr. Müller (Deputy Director of the West Berlin Division), Comrade Karl (China Sector) and the Chinese ambassador’s translator. 

Comrade Dr. Müller read aloud as ordered a statement of the GDR’s position on questions related to West Berlin (for the exact wording see the attached). These statements were then informally handed over in writing. 

Amb. Peng thanked him for the information he presented on orders of the MfAA regarding the position of the GDR government on West Berlin and underscored that he had the duty as ambassador of transmitting these considerations to his government. He expressed the view that the diplomatic relations between our two countries should be further developed, although differences of opinion existed on various questions.  Therefore, he thought that an exchange of views between the two sides would be useful. He asked whether the above information was provided only to the embassy of the PRC or to all foreign missions in the GDR and whether there were many countries that wanted to establish representation in West Berlin.  

Comrade Dr. Müller answered both questions. He detailed in particular that the socialist countries that sought to establish representation in West Berlin (for example Hungary, Bulgaria), already set out from the stated principles that had been agreed upon with the GDR. He additionally pointed out that due to previous efforts by the GDR, many countries shared the position of the GDR. 

Amb. Peng then remarked that he did not want to speak about the previous policy of the PRC as to West Berlin, which in his mind was already known to Comrade Liebermann. From his perspective, a complicated situation had arisen in the question of West Berlin, although not for reasons that were not associated with China’s policies. Since the situation is complicated, he said, China handles the question of West Berlin with caution. China acts vis a vis West Berlin in such a fashion that corresponds to the existing situation.  Based on the GDR side’s statements, one would have to think that the GDR counted China as one of those countries that wanted to establish a representation in West Berlin. To the best of his knowledge, he said, China would continue to handle Berlin on the basis of the already existing situation. With this, though, he did not want to say that the GDR side’s statements were unnecessary. In his opinion, an exchange of views was important and necessary for the development of relations. Therefore, he was thankful again for the information regarding the position of the GDR regarding West Berlin. 

Comrades Liebermann and Müller pointed out that it is a natural desire of the GDR to present the position of the GDR government to certain questions and to hope that this position will be respected. They stated that we also view an exchange of views as useful for shaping diplomatic relations. To them, this was also about learning the other country’s position. From discussions with comrades in the MVR, KVDR, and DRV, it was apparent to them that these countries have the same opinions as we do on the question of West Berlin. With regards to the complicatedness of the question of West Berlin, they stated that the Quadripartite Agreement created legally binding conditions that serve for détente and the development of normal relations. The complicatedness of the situation stems from the efforts of the BRD to undermine the Quadripartite Agreement, to accomplish their annexation-related efforts, which contradict this agreement, and to unilaterally change the situation to the benefit of the BRD. 

Comrade Dr. Müller answered an interposed question regarding the problem of West Berlin in the negotiations between the CSSR and the BRD. He demonstrated that through the basic attitude of the CSSR, the attempts by the BRD to undermine the Quadripartite Agreement through the question of legal assistance were rebuffed. 

Amb. Peng thanked him for this additional information. He stated that the Chinese embassy in the GDR maintains contacts with figures in West Berlin. The government of the PRC, he said, handles relations with West Berlin according to the existing situation. The embassy would hold to this in its contacts with West Berliners. It is however necessary, he said, to receive more exact information about the situation in West Berlin. He therefore would like to express the wish that department leader or other colleagues of the MfAA later give him or his colleagues more information regarding this question. 

Comrades Liebermann and Müller responded to this desire positively. From their perspective one must proceed from the necessity and the usefulness of an exchange of views. In such a situation, the opportunity to avoid misunderstandings to a certain degree also plays a role. At the same time, it must be pointed out that the GDR is also interested in the Chinese side also informing it about its relations to West Berlin or the contacts the Chinese embassy has to West Berlin. 

With this, the discussion, which proceeded in a matter-of-fact atmosphere, ended. 

Comment:

The discussion with Amb. Peng has shown that it is correct vis a vis the PRC to state the position of the GDR regarding certain questions in an offensive manner. For this reason, Amb. Peng’s wish should be answered, to give further information about our policy vis a vis West Berlin and the situation in West Berlin, at a yet to be determine point in time. 

[signature]

Karl

Section Head

Attachment

(for distribution see overleaf)