Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

762.001/2–950: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Frankfort¹

secret

Washington, February 9, 1950—7 p. m.

895. For McCloy from Byroade. Considerable concern has arisen here in both State and Defense Depts over contemplated Ger Youth rally scheduled for Berlin in latter part of May. We note with satis estab of a tripartite action comite in Berlin and corresponding organization of Gers to study this problem. Request you keep us fully informed and furnish us when formulated with your views as to proper handling of this case.

Inasmuch as there seems to be adequate time for considered judgement and planning in connection this issue, we do not wish interject recommendations from here prior to receipt of coordinated views from Germany. To aid in your thinking however believe you shld know Secy is personally concerned over wide implications that appear in this effort of Sovs to use Gers to at the very least weaken our position in Berlin. In addition to reply which Mayor Reuter will make to Honecker² you might consider the desirability of subsequent communication direct to Sov auths backing up his stand as it appears here that we must hold Sovs directly responsible for planning and execution of this exercise.

New subject: Reports, particularly press, have been confused in last few days on status and trend in traffic slowdown to Berlin. When may we expect your analysis and recommendations on blockade issue?³ [Byroade.]

Acheson

1. Repeated to Berlin for Taylor as 36.
2. On February 2, Erich Honecker, Chairman of the Free German Youth (FDJ) of the Soviet Zone, had sent a letter to Ernst Reuter, Lord Mayor of Berlin, asking permission for columns of the FDJ to pass through the city and use the Olympic Stadium in the British sector. (762.00/2–950)
3. In telegram 1376, February 15, from Frankfort, not printed, McCloy reported that a Political and Economic Projects Committee (PEPCO), composed of officials from the political, economic, public affairs, and intelligence branches of HICOG, had been established to advise on Soviet and East German activities with the aim of countering anticipated and actual moves by the Soviet Union and East Germans throughout Germany. Frankfort reported further that the traffic slowdown continued intermittently possibly due to: 1) Soviet desire to prevent scrap and other materials from leaving the Soviet Zone without East German approval, 2) an attempt to force Western firms to ship by rail which was easier for the Soviet authorities to control, 3) an effort to determine the firmness of Allied policy regarding Berlin. As possible countermeasures McCloy offered three documentation and traffic control measures, but felt “that greater pressure can be exerted by selective blockade of industrial and raw material items badly needed by East Zone manufacturers.” (762A.0221/2–1550) These recommendations had been sent to McCloy by Taylor on February 11 (Telegram 223, from Berlin to Frankfort, not printed, Bonn Embassy Files, McCloy Project: Lot 311: Box 13: February 1950.)