Preface
The late S. Everett Gleason supervised the initial planning and compilation of
this volume. Fredrick Aandahl succeeded him as editor in 1972 and directed the
process of review, declassification, and final editing.
David H. Stauffer compiled and edited the sections on the concern of the United
States with the defense of Western Europe, continued economic assistance to
Europe, and negotiation of the Schuman Plan, as well as the sections on Belgium,
Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Charles S. Sampson
prepared the sections on the meeting of ambassadors at Rome, the meetings of
foreign ministers at London and New York, and the question of possible
establishment of diplomatic relations with the Vatican, as well as those on
Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Lisle A. Rose prepared the
section on American interest in the Council of Europe; Joan Ellen Corbett those
on efforts in support of democratic forces in Italy and the Free Territory of
Trieste; and Mr. Aandahl the one on France and John A. Bernbaum the one on
revision of the Treaty of Peace with Italy. The technical editing of the volume
was done by the Publishing and Reproduction Division (Willard M. McLaughlin,
Chief), and Francis C. Prescott prepared the index.
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. They are grateful for the cooperation of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, the National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the
Central Intelligence Agency, all of which facilitated declassification of papers
for release in this volume. Thanks are also due to those foreign governments
that kindly granted permission for publication of certain of their
documents.
David F. Trask
The Historian
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
[Page IV]
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 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.
