862.001/12–2745
The United States Political Adviser for Germany
(Murphy) to the Secretary of State
No. 1588
Berlin, December 27,
1945.
[Received January 17, 1946.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my Despatch
No. 1587 of December 27, 1945,97 entitled “Transmitting Military Governor’s Report
No. 5 for November”. In that despatch the Department’s attention was
invited to the supplementary report on political activity which
accompanied the Military Governor’s Report for November and which was an
innovation.
As the Department is aware, the Military Governor’s Report is published
and has attracted considerable press and radio interest, both in the
United States and abroad. Therefore, a revised edition of the enclosure
was prepared for publication. The revision omitted references to
personalities involved in party political activity in the different
zones in order to avoid possible friction and misunderstanding.
[Page 1024]
The enclosure is for the
Department’s confidential information. The current political situation
of course represents only a feeble beginning. Interesting personalities
are emerging but slowly, and it is not at all clear that those presently
prominent in organizational work will survive.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Extract]
Memorandum by Mr. Perry Laukhuff, on the Staff of
the United States Political Adviser for Germany
Synopsis
The German public continued generally indifferent toward political
life but party leaders were increasingly active in organizing groups
and making widespread contacts. Numerous local political parties
were authorized in the U.S. Zone, Social Democrats, Communists and
Christian Democrats making the most progress in that order. A total
of 128 local political parties had been organized in Bavaria by 29
November.
A new directive of 23 November extended permission for the formation
of parties to engage in political activities throughout a State
(Land).98 This development,
expected to assist in clarifying and stabilizing political activity,
came too late in the month to observe any results.
Regional conferences of the Christian Democratic Union and of the
Communist Party were held at Frankfurt following the national
conference of Social Democrats at Hannover in October. The Christian
Democratic Union is planning a national conference at Bad Godesberg
for December.
All parties under formation suffered from internal divisions and
differences of opinion which, however, seldom broke through to the
surface.
The differences among the four parties in Berlin became sharper and
more evident, with a resultant weakening of the “united bloc” of
parties, despite an intensive Communist campaign in its support.
Election codes were submitted to Military Government by the
governments of the three States in the U.S. Zone during November and
were approved with some modifications. The legal basis has thus been
laid for the conduct of the communal elections scheduled for
January.
. . . . . . .
