Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Germany and Austria, Volume II

740.00119 Control (Germany)/2–1248: Telegram

The Acting United States Political Adviser for Germany (Riddleberger) to the Secretary of State

secret

Berlin, February 12, 1948—4 p. m.

347. Under “other business”, Soviet member 79th meeting Allied Control Council held February 11 protested action western powers regarding both Kulturbund and Peoples Congress movement.

In discussing Kulturbund (mytel 304, February 6¹), Soviet member continued unwilling agree organization should apply Kommandatura for authorization, even though British and US members intimated application would receive favorable consideration. In view continued impasse, question withdrawn agenda.

Soviet member then referred protest addressed ACC by Peoples Congress permanent committee against prohibition this movement three western zones (refer my despatch 107, January 23²). Soviet member praised this movement and suggested ACC authorize it throughout Germany. In reply, British member questioned Soviet claim that Peoples Congress enjoys support great majority German people, emphasizing that as regards British zone most Germans and most political parties regard movement as “political trick by one political party,” which explains British prohibition. US member emphasized that whoever Peoples Congress movement represents, it certainly doesn’t represent German people US zone. Debate ended with usual Soviet charges directed western powers, including alleged US opposition “all progressive democratic ideas”.

Sent Department 347; pouch copies Moscow, London, and Paris.

Riddleberger

1. Not printed; it reported that the Coordinating Committee, at its 149th Meeting, February 5, had had a fruitless discussion regarding the status of the Kulturbund (740.00119 Control (Germany)/2–648). The Kulturbund, a Communist-dominated intellectual and cultural organization, had been prohibited from functioning in the American, British, and French zones of Berlin pending its registration in accordance with an Allied Kommandatura decree of January 1947. The Soviet authorities insisted that such registration was unnecessary inasmuch as the Kulturbund had been in existence since 1945.
2. Not printed. The German Peoples Congress (Volkskongress) Movement was a Communist dominated mass organization called into existence in late November 1947. Although generally boycotted by non Communist German political forces, it quickly became a principal feature of political life in the Soviet zone of occupation. The announced aim of the Peoples Congress Movement was the achievement of German unity. It held its first national meeting in Berlin in December 1947. In late January 1948, American and British occupation authorities prohibited the Peoples Congress from functioning in their zones. Subsequent to that action, the Permanent Committee of the Peoples Congress addressed letters to the American, British, and French occupation authorities and to the Allied Control Council protesting the ban on the Movement in the western zones of occupation.