During the last few months the Department has been considering the advisability of establishing a Canadian office in Frankfurt. A memorandum was prepared suggesting that it would be advisable to open a consulate in the "capital" of Bizonia because of its increasing economic and political importance.†

2. This memorandum was sent to our Heads of missions in London, Washington, Paris and Berlin and they were asked for their comments. These have now been received and all are agreed that the suggested consulate would be valuable.¹⁷ Mr. Robertson felt that we should have someone with sufficient authority in Frankfurt to supervise and control the operations of Canadian immigration teams in Bizonia. Mr. Wrong believed it to be most desirable to establish a Canadian office in Frankfurt as soon as possible on the grounds that, if the situation grew worse, the office might be needed in Frankfurt at shorter notice than we would be able to set it up. General Vanier emphasized the economic importance of Canadian interests in Western Germany which he felt could hest be served by the opening of an office in Frankfurt.

3. Since our memorandum referred to was prepared the London Tripartite talks have made considerable progress. Steps will be taken for a Trizonal German constitutional assembly to meet by September 1st, 1948. Full Trizonal fusion is being aimed at and it is hoped that it will follow the establishment of a Western German government. Opportunities are being given to the Benelux States to comment on Bizonal developments through their consulates in Frankfurt.

4. On the basis of these responses and having in mind the recent and rapidly developing events resulting from the Tripartite talks in London, it seems to me that:

(a) It would be psychologically and politically unwise to withdraw our mission in Berlin at the present time.

(b) A consular office in Frankfurt would he useful in view of:

(i) The unsatisfactory situation in Berlin which may conceivably result in the withdrawal of our mission from there.

(ii) The increasing political importance of Frankfurt as the capital of a large and important "state".

(iii) Thea import programme for Western Germany under the European Cooperation Act in which we may have some interest.

(iv) The removal of travel restrictions for businessmen and some restrictions on foreign banking activities which suggest that Western Germany will be open to world trade.

(v) The need for a representative to supervise and coordinate the operations of our immigration teams in Western Germany.

(vi) The difficulty of performing all these functions from Berlin which is, as you know, comparatively inaccessible.

(c) If a Frankfurt office were opened the volume of consular work in Berlin would not justify the retention at that post of the consular officer Grade Ill who is now stationed there. He could therefore he transferred to Frankfurt and only one additional officer would be required at Frankfurt.

(d) As is usual in countries where we have a diplomatic mission and a consular representative, the Frankfurt representative should he responsible to the Head of the mission in Berlin.

(e) All our enquiries indicate that there would he no objection on the part of the occupying powers to the opening of a Canadian consulate in Frankfurt with jurisdiction throughout the three zones of Western Germany.

4. I therefore recommend that preparations he made in the Department for the opening of a consular office in Frankfurt which would be subordinate to the Military mission in Berlin which, I feel, must he maintained.

5. The Frankfurt office would have the following functions:

(a) It should coordinate the operations of all Canadian Government agencies in the three Western Zones.

(b) It should perform consular functions in the three zones. (e) It should provide political and economic representation in the thTee zones.

6. If you agree, I suggest that General Pope should be authorized to seek office space and quarters in Frankfurt'" and that the three Occupying Powers should be formally asked to agree to the opening of a Canadian consulate in Frankfurt.¹⁹

L.B. P[EARSON]

¹⁷C'est trompeur car le chef de la mission militaire à Berlin a indiqué son désaccord dans deux lettres à Reid (les 19 et 22 mars). Dans la seconde lettre, plus personnelle, Pope fait ce commentaire : This is misleading as the Head of the Military Mission in Berlin expressed his opposition in two letters to Reid (March 19 and 22). In the second, more personal letter, Pope comments that: "like Calvin Coolidge' s parson's view of sin, 'I'm agin it'."

¹⁸A.J, Hicks, Chief of Consular Section, Berlin, relocated to Frankfurt in charge of the consulate there. in July.

¹⁹Note marginale :/Marginal note:
I agree. St. L[aurent] May 25, 1948