No. 54

850.33/4–551: Despatch

The Chief of the Policy Staff of the Office of Public Affairs, Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany ( Boerner), to the Department of State
secret
No. 3198

Subject: Prospective German Government Cooperation in Popularizing Schuman Plan in Germany

A representative of the Policy Staff, Office of Public Affairs, HICOG, Frankfurt, called March 31 at Bad Godesberg on Dr. Ulrich Sahm, head of the “Secretariat for Schuman Plan Questions,” an agency of the German Foreign Office. The appointment with Dr. Sahm resulted from an offer made by HICOG at the beginning of March to cooperate with the German authorities toward popularizing the Schuman Plan in Germany.

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Dr. Sahm and the HICOG representative discussed ail projects contemplated by either party for popularization of the Plan. The chief handicaps are the lack of funds on the part of the German authorities for making the Plan discussed and understood in their country, and the fact that HICOG is an agency of a country which, inasmuch as it is not a member of the Plan, must avoid promoting it ostentatiously lest the public attribute such promotion to selfish motives.

1. Documentation

Plans were discussed for the printing of pamphlets to bear the imprint of some German institution. Dr. Sahm favors two pamphlets, one relatively technical and the other very simple and popular. When concrete German proposals for these pamphlets are ready, they will be submitted to HICOG with a view to obtaining funds for their publication.

2. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Supplement

An economic supplement to this newspaper appeared April 3 with ECA support. The supplement discusses the Schuman Plan in detail and contains considerable material furnished by the German authorities, including a statement by Chancellor Adenauer.

3. Speakers

Pursuant to a HICOG suggestion, the Germans will prepare a roster of available speakers on the Schuman Plan from various walks of life, including some from other Schuman Plan countries. The German authorities will also follow our suggestion that arrangements be made for a correspondent of the Deutsche Presse-Agentur to interview a prominent Ruhr industrialist who favors the Plan.

4. University Fora

HICOG is granting a small amount in cash to the Aktionsgruppe, an association of German professors with its seat at Heidelberg, to cover travel expenses of speakers and publicity costs for a public forum on the Plan to be held at Heidelberg. Dr. Sahm promised to approach other universities with the suggestion that they hold similar fora. Our representative and Dr. Sahm agreed that the proposal of the “Institut Luxembourgeois Universitaire” to arrange an international discussion on the Plan at Frankfurt University May 25, providing HICOG supplies the money, will be studied closely by both parties.

5. Radio Fora

Dr. Sahm agreed to promote radio debates on the Plan.

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6. Talks to Workers’ Groups

Dr. Sahm proposes to send speakers to workers’ groups, especially to plant personnel.

7. Exposition Train

The HICOG representative informed Sahm of the offer of a Stuttgart firm to prepare and operate an exposition train on the theme of the Federal Republic’s economic and political integration with the West, the resulting benefits and obligations for the Federal Republic, and the promise that the Schuman Plan holds for Europe’s future. The train would be shown on a 100-day circuit near the border of the Federal Republic. Our representative informed Dr. Sahm that this project was in need of further study but would probably work out.

8. Films

Dr. Sahm agreed that there must be maximum newsreel and other coverage of events connected with the Plan. HICOG is arranging for Welt im Film to give proper coverage.

9. Tour for Journalists

Dr. Sahm has a project whereby the German Republic would invite all Schuman Plan countries to send selected journalists on a tour of said countries with emphasis on their coal and steel areas. The German Government would provide the bus or buses and would arrange the program within Germany, including food and lodging. Each other country would be expected to provide the program and food and lodging within its territory. Sahm believes the tour, including perhaps five journalists per country, would make a good impression wherever the bus passes and that the journalists concerned would also give the Plan considerable publicity.

10. French Help in Popularizing the Plan in Germany

In response to a question by our representative. Dr. Sahm said that he had not received any offer from the French High Commissioner’s Office to help popularize the Plan in Germany.

11. Schedule of Developments

The next important date for the Schuman Plan is the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Paris April 12 to agree on unsettled details and to sign the Plan. The French and German governments are expected to recommend and facilitate full film and publications’ coverage for this meeting, which marks the first postwar participation of a German Foreign (and Prime) Minister in an international conference. Nevertheless, HICOG will suggest that Dr. Sahm check on the adequacy of publicity facilities.

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Dr. Sahm did not hazard a guess as to how long it will take for the German Parliament to reach active consideration of ratification of the Schuman Plan. An informed guess from other sources is that the Bundestag will not act on the Plan until late in June. We agree with Dr. Sahm that efforts to popularize the Plan should begin to take hold soon after the close of the Paris meeting.

12. Conclusions

Judging from Dr. Sahm’s attitude, the German Government sincerely desires to make the Schuman Plan widely discussed and understood in Germany. It will appreciate discreet HICOG assistance, chiefly financial, toward this objective but wants to be kept informed of all HICOG projects in this connection. It is likely that cooperation will be smooth.

However, if German labor maintains its present opposition based mainly on implementation of Law 27, public discussion may be heated and the Plan may face rough going. Labor’s refusal to accept the agreement between HICOM and the Federal Republic regarding liquidation of the German coal sales organization concides with a vehement attack from trade union leaders on economic policies of the Adenauer Government. It is probable that there will be a strong labor campaign this Spring on the issues of pricewage policies and codetermination in mining or, if settled there, in other industries. It appears difficult but essential that the Schuman Plan not become a political football, but be lifted out of this context.

Alfred V. Boerner