740.00119 EW/11–147: Telegram

The Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

secret

3484. Personal for Hickerson. Brussels 1675 from Dorr to OE.29 General Clay has been in communication with War Department regarding Dorr’s desire to have OMGUS representative appear with British representative before IARA Assembly November 6 to discuss new bizonal plant list and reparation program.

Clay is averse to having OMGUS representative appear before IARA and “be shot at by the members from Albania, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia.” He believes that OMGUS is under no obligation to explain to them the several reasons entering into the preparation of the bizonal level of industry and the list of plants. He feels that if an explanation is necessary it could best be made on government level and that it is IARA’s function simply to allocate equipment declared surplus by the occupying powers. If OMGUS representatives become involved in detailed explanations they might conceivably make statements which some representatives in IARA might seize on and turn propagandawise against US.

Clay intends to stand on this position unless he receives clear-cut instructions to the contrary from Washington. There would seem to be validity in his point of view but there may be a question of broader policy consideration known to the Department. If so, please indicate.

Sent Department as 3484, repeated Brussels for Dorr as 153.

Murphy
  1. Not printed.