261. Memorandum From the Chief of the Special Procedures Group(Cassady) to the Deputy Chief of the Special Procedures Group (Dulin)0
Washington, March 11, 1948.
SUBJECT
- Conversations with Mr. Charles Davies,1 State Department
- 1.
- On March 1, I visited Mr. Davies to state that we had, after my discussions pro and con, arrived at the conclusion that the most effective [Page 654] method of penetrating the iron curtain would be via clandestine radio situated in an artificially created sterile area of our occupied zone. Inasmuch as the execution of this plan would involve considerable expenditure of public funds, the hiring of personnel, etc., we did not want to undertake such a commitment without clearing with State, for the reason that State was soon to take over the administration of the American zone in Germany. Aside from that fact, I further stated that we desired at all times to cooperate with State in the prosecution of our new endeavor.
- 2.
- Mr. Davies called today to ask me to come over. He apologized for being ten days in coming back to me and said finally he had been able to get to Mr. Cannon2 who, as I understood it, had talked in turn to Mr. Lovett pertaining to this matter. Mr. Davies states that Mr. Lovett’s reaction was that he wanted to know very little about our project but in principle he had no objection. Mr. Cannon’s attitude was that we have the green light but State wanted to be apprised of our progress and proposed operations in order that they would not conflict with State’s policies. This I agreed to do.