Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

PPS Files, Lot 64 D 563, PPS Meetings

Record of the 36th Meeting, Policy Planning Staff, Department of State, March 1, 1949, 3:30 p. m. to 4:30 p. m. ¹

secret

[ Washington , undated.]

This meeting was called to discuss the proposed study of the situation in the European satellite states to determine what positive steps might be taken by this Government.²

Mr. Kennan explained that when we studied the European situation two years ago the decision was to put into effect the Marshall Plan to help save Western Europe from communism. This objective has been achieved to a great extent. Our objective now must be to obtain the retraction of Soviet power from Eastern Europe. If we can do this, war should not be necessary. It is for this reason that we are undertaking a study to examine separately and collectively the situation of the European satellite states to determine what we can do to bring about the retraction of Soviet power from that area. We should be able to determine what are the weak spots on which to hammer relentlessly and also to determine whether we want in the first instance some form of Titoism.³

Ambassador Smith said that the Russians fear Titoism above everything else. The Ambassador emphasized that the United States does not fear communism if it is not controlled by Moscow and not committed to aggression.

It was decided that we should meet again tomorrow to pursue this subject further.⁴

1. This record was prepared by Carlton Savage, Executive Secretary, Policy Planning Staff.

   Present for this meeting were George F. Kennan, Director of the Policy Planning Staff, and Ware Adams, John Paton Davies, Jr., and Dorothy Fosdick, members of the Staff, and Carlton Savage. Also present were: Walworth Barbour, Chief of the Division of Southeast European Affairs; Maynard Barnes, former United States Representative in Bulgaria, 1944–1947; Donald R. Heath, Minister to Bulgaria, on leave in Washington for consultation; Selden Chapin, Minister to Hungary, on leave in Washington for consultation; Philip Jessup, Ambassador at Large; Rudolph E. Schoenfeld, Minister to Romania, on leave in Washington on consultation; Walter Bedell Smith, former Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1946–1949; Llewellyn E. Thompson, Deputy Director of the Office of European Affairs.

2. At its 32nd Meeting, February 23, the Policy Planning Staff decided to undertake a study of the situation in the Eastern European satellite states in order to determine what positive steps might be taken by the United States. The Staff planned to explore the various possibilities for a more active American policy in the area and to make appropriate recommendations. The Staff planned to call upon the Ministers to Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, all of whom were present in Washington for consultation.
3. For documentation on the attitude of the United States regarding the conflict between Yugoslavia and the Communist Information Bureau, see pp. 854 ff.
4. There was a further discussion of Eastern Europe at the 88th Meeting of the Policy Planning Staff on March 2. The discussion, for which no detailed record has been found, appeared to center largely on the observations of the three recently returned Ministers (PPS Files: Lot 64 D 563: PPS Meetings). The Staff had further discussions of the Eastern European problem at meetings on March 11 and 21 and April 1. For a record of the last-named meeting, see infra.