Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 142A

No. 182
Memorandum by the Director of the Bureau of German Affairs (Riddleberger) to the Secretary of State1

top secret

Subject: Adenauer’s suggestions at White House Conference regarding President’s proposed speech.2

At the closing White House meeting with Adenauer on April 9, the President invited his comments, if any, on the proposed speech, i.e. in terms of its German implications.

The Chancellor replied that, as far as he could recall, the sections of the speech he had seen the day before seemed excellent. His sole specific suggestion was that some reference should be made to the missing German prisoners of war and civilian internees, i.e., who have never come back from Soviet custody.

Adenauer then agreed with the President’s suggestion that any such reference should be to those war prisoners and civilian internees in general who have not come back from the Soviet-Communist hands, i.e., German and other nationalities.

  1. A copy was also sent to MacArthur.
  2. Under reference here is the President’s speech, “The Chance for Peace”, made before the American Society of Newspaper Editors on Apr. 16; for text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953, pp. 179–188, or Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 27, 1953, pp. 599–603.