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

762A.00/6–250: Telegram

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

secret

Washington, June 2, 1950—6 p. m.

3923. PEPCO. Re Berlin’s tel 824, May 28 sent Frankfort 1003, London 85, Moscow 67, Paris 278, Bonn 81.

Dept reaction plan reconstitute East CDU, LDP and SPD in West Berlin favorable. Development such project wld serve to undermine effectiveness of collaborationist bourgeois parties as instruments for execution SED policies and Nat’l Front propaganda and expose fictitious nature of broad coalition in GDR. New setup wld moreover offer a really appealing and effective rallying point for anti-Sov and anti-SED sentiment in Sovzone and thus stimulate an improvement in morale and resistance of Sovzone population.

In event plan materializes it wld seem important for West Ger and Allied assistance to be furnished promptly and effectively but in a discreet manner which wld avoid possible charge organization “sponsored” by Western Allies. Although organization shld be encouraged to develop on its own, early assurances of our sympathetic interest and support wld probably be important factor in guaranteeing its success. Full cooperation and use our info media facilities shld be pledged to leaders of project. Keep Dept informed.²

Acheson

1. Repeated to Berlin as 222, Moscow 472, London 2671, and Paris 2533.
2. In a subsequent exchange of telegrams McCloy suggested that the West Berlin and Bonn sections of the parties be consulted on the problem. When this was done it appeared that only Kaiser favored the idea of reconstituting the East Zone parties in West Berlin. Following this report the Allied Political Advisers held two meetings in Berlin at which it was agreed that it would be “best West German parties develop East Zone sections within own organs instead wholly separate parties in exile.” In view of these reactions the Department of State agreed to the development of the sections and stated that it favored “maximum unity of action on part three East Zone sections.” Telegrams 943, June 19, from Berlin; 300, June 15, from Bonn; 4962, June 9, from Frankfort; and to Frankfort 4597, June 27. (762.00/6–1950 and 762A.00/6–950 and 1550)