Preface
This volume was prepared under the general supervision of E. Ralph Perkins,
formerly Chief of the Foreign Relations Division, currently headed by S. Everett
Gleason.
The compilers of the volume were Ralph E. Goodwin, Herbert A. Fine, and former
staff members John G. Reid and Francis C. Prescott. Preliminary planning and
review of the volume was provided by Mr. Perkins, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Prescott.
Final review was the responsibility of Messrs. Gleason, Reid, and Rogers P.
Churchill.
The editors acknowledge with appreciation the assistance provided them by the
historians of the Department of Defense, including those of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
The Publishing and Reproduction Services Division (Jerome H. Perlmutter, Chief)
was responsible for the technical editing of this volume.
William M. Franklin
Director, Historical Office
Bureau of Public Affairs
Principles for the Compilation and Editing of “Foreign
Relations”
The principles which guide the compilation and editing of Foreign Relations are stated in Department of State Regulation 2
FAM 1350 of June 15, 1961, a revision of the order approved on March 26,
1925, by Mr. Frank B. Kellogg, then Secretary of State. The text of the
regulation, as further amended, is printed below:
1350 Documentary Record of American
Diplomacy
1351 Scope of Documentation
The publication Foreign Relations of the United States
constitutes the official record of the foreign policy of the United States.
These volumes include, subject to necessary security considerations, all
documents needed to give a comprehensive record of the major foreign
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policy decisions within the range of
the Department of State’s responsibilities, together with appropriate
materials concerning the facts which contributed to the formulation of
policies. When further material is needed to supplement the documentation in
the Department’s files for a proper understanding of the relevant policies
of the United States, such papers should be obtained from other Government
agencies.
1352 Editorial Preparation
The basic documentary diplomatic record to be printed in Foreign Relations of the United States is edited by the Historical
Office, Bureau of Public Affairs of the Department of State. The editing of
the record is guided by the principles of historical objectivity. There may
be no alteration of the text, no deletions without indicating where in the
text the deletion is made, and no omission of facts which were of major
importance in reaching a decision. Nothing may be omitted for the purpose of
concealing or glossing over what might be regarded by some as a defect of
policy. However, certain omissions of documents are permissible for the
following reasons:
-
a.
- To avoid publication of matters which would tend to impede current
diplomatic negotiations or other business.
-
b.
- To condense the record and avoid repetition of needless
details.
-
c.
- To preserve the confidence reposed in the Department by
individuals and by foreign governments.
-
d.
- To avoid giving needless offense to other nationalities or
individuals.
-
e.
- To eliminate personal opinions presented in despatches and not
acted upon by the Department. To this consideration there is one
qualification—in connection with major decisions it is desirable,
where possible, to show the alternatives presented to the Department
before the decision was made.
1353 Clearance
To obtain appropriate clearances of material to be published in Foreign Relations of the United States, the
Historical Office:
-
a.
- Refers to the appropriate policy offices of the Department and of
other agencies of the Government such papers as appear to require
policy clearance.
-
b.
- Refers to the appropriate foreign governments requests for
permission to print as part of the diplomatic correspondence of the
United States those previously unpublished documents which were
originated by the foreign governments.
