Editorial Note

On January 12, 1953, the Department of State informed the Embassies in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, [Page 1549] and HICOG offices in the Federal Republic of Germany, that John Foster Dulles was contemplating a trip to their countries in order to confer with leading government officials on “present important problems and in particular with reference to EDC.” (Telegram 4623 to London, January 12, repeated to Rome, Paris, Brussels, The Hague, and HICOG in Bonn; 110.11 DU/1–1253) In the following two days, Ambassadors Gifford, Dunn, Bunker, Cowen, and Chapin, and Acting High Commissioner for Germany Reber replied enthusiastically to the proposal; their replies are in Department of State file 110.11 DU/1–1353 and 1–1453.

Preliminary arrangements were begun on January 14 when the Department of State transmitted three circular telegrams to Western Europe in which the general information-gathering purpose of the trip was outlined, a proposed itinerary was provided, and a request was made that the countries in Western Europe not on the schedule be informed “in such a way as to avoid any heartburn.” (Circular telegrams 761, 762, and 763, January 14; 110.11 DU/1–1453) The schedule of formal meetings with leading government officials in each country was as follows:

Washington

January 30–Friday
9:30 a.m. Depart from Washington

Rome

January 31–Saturday
9:30 a.m. Arrive in Rome
12:45 p.m. Courtesy call on President Einaudi
4:30 p.m. Private meeting with Prime Minister De Gasperi
5:15 p.m. Meeting with Italian officials
February 1–Sunday
9:40 a.m. Depart from Rome

Paris

February 1–Sunday
12:30 p.m. Arrive in Paris
3:15 p.m. Meeting with U.S. Chiefs of Mission; followed by Stassen’s meeting with SRE and MSA officials
February 2–Monday
10:00 a.m. Meeting with French Ministers
3:30 p.m. Courtesy call on President Auriol
4:00 p.m. Meeting with French officials
February 3–Tuesday
11:00 a.m. Meeting with Lord Ismay
11:30 a.m. Attend the North Atlantic Council meeting
12 noon Meeting with OEEC officials
3:30 p.m. Depart from Paris
[Page 1550]

London

February 3–Tuesday
3:40 p.m. Arrive in London
February 4–Wednesday
10:30 a.m. Meeting with British officials
3:30 p.m. Meeting with British officials
February 5–Thursday
9:35 a.m. Depart from London

Bonn

February 5–Thursday
12 noon Arrive in Bonn
12:45 p.m. Courtesy call on Chancellor Adenauer
4:30 p.m. Courtesy call on President Heuss
5:30 p.m. Meeting with SPD officials
6:30 p.m. Meeting with German officials
February 6–Friday
9:25 a.m. Depart from Bonn

The Hague

February 6–Friday
10:15 a.m. Arrive in The Hague
12 noon Courtsey call on Prime Minister Drees
3:30 p.m. Meeting with Foreign Minister Beyen
4:30 p.m. Meeting with Minister without Portfolio Luns
February 7–Saturday
9:45 a.m. Depart from The Hague

Brussels

February 7–Saturday
10:15 a.m. Arrive in Brussels
1:00 p.m. Meeting with Belgian Ministers
February 8–Sunday
9:30 a.m. Depart from Brussels

Luxembourg

February 8–Sunday
10:00 a.m. Arrive in Luxembourg
11:30 a.m. Courtesy call on the Grand Duchess
11:45 a.m. Meeting with Luxembourg Ministers
3:00 p.m. Meeting with U.S. Observers to the Coal and Steel Community High Authority followed by a meeting with Jean Monnet
6:35 p.m. Depart from Luxembourg

Washington

February 9–Monday
Arrive in Washington

For a complete schedule of Dulles’ and Stassen’s activities, including briefings, dinners, and meetings with Embassy personnel, see the Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 136. Prior to his departure from Washington [Page 1551] on January 30, Dulles stated that the purpose of his trip, which was being undertaken at President Eisenhower’s request, was “to gather information about problems which we and other nations of the Atlantic community must deal with in our common effort to attain peace, security, and economic health.” For the complete text of Dulles’ statement, see the Department of State Bulletin, February 9, 1953, page 217.

A useful supplement to the Department of State central files in the preparation of this compilation was the Conference files, lot 59 D 95, which includes two folders of material relating to the DullesStassen trip. Folder CF 136 contains position papers prepared on each country to be visited as well as topical papers on subjects such as European regional organizations; folder CF 137 includes telegrams and records of the various meetings, correspondence exchanged between the Heads of Government of each country visited and President Eisenhower, and press releases with the texts of Dulles’ arrival and departure statements given at each stop on his trip. Position papers on German problems, prepared for the DullesStassen trip, are also in the CFM files, lot M 88, box 164.