Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 2

No. 665

711.5849/2–1051: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Frankfurt¹

secret   niact

Washington, February 12, 1951—6 p.m.

5536. This is State–Defense msg. We are concerned at Praha’s 505, rptd HICOG 186,² and Praha 508 Feb 10,³ passed Moscow 28, rptd HICOG 159, Paris 81, London 55, both passed to Vienna.

It is imperative that no cause be given for any incident between Czechs and US involving forcing down or shooting down of US civil or mil aircraft. To that end USAF is instructing USAFE and USFA every special precaution will be taken to insure that absolutely no US aircraft of any type violates Czech territory. Special instrs are to go to all pilots to this effect, with importance this order being strongly emphasized.

HICOG and USCOA shld put out special warning to civil airlines operating to and through Ger and Austria to effect that Czechs and other curtain countries are exercised about alleged unauthorized overflights and that safety of aircraft crew and passengers demands that every precaution be taken rigidly to follow flight authorizations and procedures.

Acheson

1. Repeated niact to Praha and Vienna, and also sent to Moscow, Paris, and London. Drafted by Wolf of EUR/RA and cleared by EE, GPA, WE, AV, and the U.S. Air Force.
2. Not printed, but see Document 663.
3. Supra.