Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 1

762A.00/6–353

No. 192
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State¹

secret

Washington, June 3, 1953.

Mr. Blankenhorn expressed the following personal views of Dr. Adenauer:

1. He felt the need of someone in Bonn with a greater background than that possessed by President Conant. He suggested Mr. Riddleberger in this connection.

2. He explained that Americans presumably connected with the U.S. High Commission were urging a coalition government in Germany. He mentioned a Mr. Kirchheimer (?)² in this connection.

3. He strongly urged that prior to the elections we should give Dr. Conant and later the German Chargé d’Affaires here the title of “Ambassador” in addition, of course, to Conant’s position as High Commissioner.

4. Nothing had been accomplished with reference to war criminals and he urged strongly the prompt establishment of at least a two-party U.S. board.

5. He urged that an effort be made at Bermuda to agree that in view of the German ratification of the contractuals some of these provisions could provisionally be put into operation while awaiting ratification by the other parties. He said that the Socialists were constantly asserting that Adenauer’s policy had gotten him nowhere with the Allies.

1. A copy of this memorandum was transmitted to President Eisenhower on June 3 under cover of a memorandum from Dulles which advised the President to read it before he saw Blankenhorn on June 4. (762A.00/6–353)
2. Not further identified.