033.1100 CO/4–353: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France1
5098. Eyes only Chief of Mission. Reference Depcirtel 997 April 2,2 trip Cohn and Schine, staff McCarthy Comite. Dept wishes missions cooperate with investigators and furnish them such info as necessary accomplishment purpose their mission as described reftel. However under existing directives there is no authority make available info re security matters or policy directives. More specifically, no info contained in personnel security files will be divulged to investigators. Beyond this, Chief of Mission authorized use own discretion. Any requests by investigators for info this type must be dealt with by high ranking and experienced officer of mission who can handle situation with tact and judgment. Limitations referred to above same as limitations imposed by Dept on info furnished investigators in Washington. Any requests by staff to retain classified documents will be denied. If assertion made that comite must have document, staff will be informed that mission will forward documents to Dept for decision.
This info furnished for your guidance and must be discreetly handled.
[Page 1439]Personal from Smith to Aldrich, Dillon, Thompson and Conant or Acting Chief HICOG.3
I want to emphasize that the above instructions which indicate the need for your personal attention to this matter mean what they say. This is not something which can be delegated to a junior member of the staff but requires firm and very careful handling.
- Drafted by Ben H. Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations. Sent also to London, Vienna, and Bonn.↩
- Supra.↩
- The recipients named here are identified as follows: Winthrop W. Aldrich, Ambassador to the United Kingdom; C. Douglas Dillon, Ambassador to France; Llewellyn E. Thompson, Jr., U.S. High Commissioner for Austria; and James B. Conant, U.S. High Commissioner for Germany.↩