Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 2

800.4614/7–1851: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France ¹

secret

Washington, July 18, 1951—7 p. m.

414. Urtel 159, July 9, rptd info Moscow 4, Frankfort 18, London, Rome, Berlin, Warsaw, Praha unnumbered.² Urge FornOff Dept considers Congress provides Communists global sounding board too valuable to refrain raising obstacles delegates journeys through free nations. Because avowed purpose Congress hamper econ progress, deter defense buildup distract attn Russia’s armament free nations justified denying this instance privileges freedoms of democracies to delegates who use former to destroy latter.

Emphasize disruptive designs Congress on internal affairs free nations including Fr. If Fr takes strong position against delegates entry will disrupt Communist plans, improve morale all anti-Communists Western Europe. Leadership against Russian inspired peace offensives best counter measure.

Since delegates may prefer enter Belgium inform Emb Brussels contents urtel 159. If applicable Emb Brussels should proceed as above.

This msg also applies Embs wherever delegates may attempt passage free nation.

Emb may also tell FornOff Dept refusing passport facilities to Amers believed going Berlin Congress.³

Acheson

1. This telegram, drafted by Caprio of the Office of Western European Affairs, and cleared by the Bureau of European Affairs, the Office of Western European Affairs and the Passport Division, was repeated to Rome, Moscow, London, Brussels, Warsaw, Praha, Frankfurt, and Berlin.
2. Not printed; it reported that Guy de Boysson, a former President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) was in charge of organizing youth delegations for the Berlin festival who arrived in French and Belgian ports. (800.4614/7–951)
3. On July 20 the Department of State advised McCloy that, in view of the purpose of the Berlin festival, “all special over flight requests from any airline over West Ger to Prague, or Berlin, or otherwise obviously connected with Congress shd be denied but no statement of reason for denial shd be given.” McCloy was further instructed together with the U.S. Embassies in London and Paris to “push for strongest U.K. and Fr support” for such measures. (Telegram 550, July 20, to Frankfurt, repeated to Paris and London, 800.4614/7–2051)