840.00/6–2149: Circular airgram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices 1

confidential

The formation of National Committee for Free Europe, Inc., with headquarters in New York, was announced on June 1, 1949. This Committee is a private organization concerning itself with democratic leaders and scholars who are exiled from the following countries: Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria. The Committee will be financed by private contributions.

The following is quoted from a statement issued by Joseph C. Grew,2 Chairman of the Committee, in announcing its formation:

“Our program begins with the tangible fact of the presence here of these exiles and refugees. There is an American tradition of hospitality to political refugees. The promise which we gave at Yalta remains unredeemed. More than that we have a definite self-interest in helping to keep alive, and in full vigor, political leaders who share our view of life—leaders who have refused to knuckle under, men who have not hesitated to risk their lives for their democratic faith. As item No. 1 in our immediate program we propose—have in fact already begun—to find suitable occupations for these democratic exiles … We are setting out to find suitable positions for them in colleges and universities. We are proposing to ask others of them to prepare studies on topics for which they are especially equipped … At the same time we are encouraging each national group of exiles to draw together politically—all democratic elements, that is, those other than Fascists or Communists—in order to form in their temporary American haven National Committees which can stand as symbols of democratic hope for their countrymen in Eastern Europe … We look forward to the day when there will no longer be an Iron Curtain … and these six nations which we helped liberate from the Nazi [Page 290] oppression will be free from the Communist oppression and once more can organize their existence in their own way. When that time comes, there will be something close to social chaos and political vacuum, for the first effort of totalitarian regimes is to destroy all constructive elements which might build anything different from themselves. Looking forward to that historic and critical time we have in mind that, if meanwhile democratic leaders have been helped to keep alive and in vigor in the democratic havens to which they have been driven, we can hope that, returning, they will have parts in a democratic reconstruction. Our second purpose will be to put the voices of these exiled political leaders on the air, addressed to their own peoples back in Europe, in their own languages, in the familiar tones. We shall help them also if we can to get their messages back by the printed word. … Of course we are not going to compete with the Voice of America. We shall endeavor to supplement the Voice of America, for the Voice is under restrictions by reason of its official character. It is our American habit not to leave everything to government. In the field of the contest of ideas there is much which private initiative can accomplish best. The third and final point in our immediate program is to set out at once to bring the exiled leaders into a broad contact with American life. … Our idea is to enable these proven champions of democracy to see with their own eyes how freedom and democracy are working out in the United States. … I have no doubt that as we go along other activities will be added to our program. …”

Members of the Committee, as of June 1, 1949 were: Frank Altschul (Treasurer), Hamilton Fish Armstrong, A. A. Berle, Francis Biddle, Robert Woods Bliss, Hugh A. Drum, Allen W. Dulles, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mark Ethridge, James A. Farley, William Green, Joseph C. Grew (Chairman), Charles R. Hook, Arthur Bliss Lane, Henry R. Luce, Arthur W. Page, DeWitt C. Poole (Executive Secretary), Charles M. Spofford, Charles P. Taft, DeWitt Wallace, Mathew Woll.

For your information, the Department has been continually informed of the process of formation of the Committee. Although the Department has no active concern with the Committee’s activities, it has given its unofficial approval to the Committee’s objectives. Because of the implicitly political nature of the Committee’s work, there will be coordination between it and the Department. We expect that the Committee will cooperate in every way toward the accomplishment of our objectives in Eastern Europe and of the general aims of our foreign policy.3

Webb
  1. This airgram was sent to 24 Embassies, Legations, and Missions in Europe and the Middle East.
  2. Former Ambassador in Japan (1982–1941) and Under Secretary of State (1945).
  3. At his press and radio news conference on June 23, Secretary of State Acheson was asked if the State Department supported or endorsed the newly established National Committee for Free Europe. The Secretary replied that the Department was very happy to see the formation of the distinguished group. He also said that the Department felt the purpose of the organization was excellent and was glad to welcome its entrance into the field and give it hearty endorsement (News Division Files).