Office of the Historian
No. 132

755.14/2–951: Airgram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Belgium 1

secret
Washington, May 5, 1951.

A–473. Reference Embassy’s telegrams Nos. 1615 of April 5; 1732 of April 27; 1749 of May 2 and Deptels 1358 and 1360 of April 12.2

If officials of Ministry of Communications have not taken action to eliminate Communist activity their Ministry suggest you take up forcefully on as high a level as you deem appropriate and press for elimination. In Department’s opinion decree published in Moniteur Belge of February 5 and 6, 1951, reported in Embassy’s despatch No. 956 of February 9, 1951,3 should be used to effect discharge Commies in Ministry. This intolerable situation already prejudicing UN war effort Korea by sapping morale Belgian contingent. [Page 280] Department amazed Belgian authorities have permitted Commies gain such ground in key Ministry.

Dept fears that if action from Belgian side not forthcoming promptly, story will leak eventually with resulting prejudicial effect on US aid behalf Europe and effect other NAT countries. If Belg refuses take action Dept appreciate your views and recommendations on having US or third country give full publicity to force Belg into action.

It also appears to Department that officials Radio Beige are, consciously or unconsciously, aiding and abetting Communist cause in influencing civilian comite abandon project to record messages from families to Belgian volunteers in Korea. If original recorded messages too depressing, second try could be made or tape could be edited eliminating depressing messages. Since such messages would be valuable contribution to morale of Belgian contingent suggest Embassy urge comite proceed with project.4

Acheson
  1. Drafted by Winfree of WE and cleared by Hickok and Scott of the same office.↩
  2. These telegrams all concerned Communist sabotage of communications between Belgian troops and volunteers in Korea and their families at home. The telegrams are in files 795.00, 511.5541, 795.00, 511.9541, and 511.9541, respectively. Other files containing related documentation are 755.14, 755.001, 795.5, 511.554, and 955.00.↩
  3. Not found in Department of State files.↩
  4. Documentation on the followup of this suggestion has not been found in Department of State files.↩