740.00119 Control (Germany)/3–1946: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany ( Murphy ) to the Secretary of State
urgent
[Received March 24—8:41 a.m.]
814. Your 645, March 12, 6 p.m., regarding letter from Secretary of War on political discussions in Germany. It is true in my opinion that uncertainty regarding the German western settlement, and also French opposition to central German administrative agencies, national trade unions and national political party activity, provide excellent material for German left propaganda which is not distasteful to our Soviet colleagues. This propaganda includes public criticism by Soviet-sponsored Germans of the conduct of affairs in the western zones. We, however, do not wish to be placed in a position of lending approval to [Page 528] public criticism by Germans of the policies and objectives of any of the four powers represented on the Control Council. Just as we resent public criticism by the Berlin Communist leaders Pieck66 and Ulbricht67 of Allied conduct of affairs in the western zone, undoubtedly the French would object to German criticism of French policies emanating from German elements in the US zone. Unless the Potsdam principles are to suffer eclipse and Allied prestige diminish, uniformity of treatment should be insisted upon in the field of popular political discussion.
It is to be hoped that none of the Allies in Germany will find it necessary to resort to the use of German instrumentality to implement criticism of the policies of the others. Under our present policy public meetings and discussions on political matters may be authorized by the Office of Military Government. This rule, it seems to me, gives ample latitude to our MG officers to permit public discussion of whatever issues we may desire.
Again we would point to our regret that so many months have been allowed to pass without implementation of the principle of central German agencies an effect of which, I am convinced, would have been the gradual relaxation of zonal barriers.
During the interval we have witnessed from across the line without opportunity to bring broader democratic influence to bear the installation in the Soviet zone of selected Germans, the vast majority of them Communists, in provincial and local administrations, trades unions, cooperatives and the execution through their media of an extensive program of social reform (land, banks, insurance companies, works councils).
The merger of the SPD and KPD is being forced apace largely detached from the influence of the SPD membership in the western zones.68