Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

662A.00/5–2852: Telegram

No. 540
The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

secret
priority

Paris, May 28, 1952—8 p.m.

924. From Secretary. At tripartite meeting this morning Secretary referred to present and anticipated harassment in Berlin and suggested HICOMs be authorized to protest immediately in Berlin without referring back to capitals since protest within few hours should be more effective. If necessary further protests would be made quickly in Moscow but this should be done only under instructions from respective capitals.

This was agreed and HICOMs authorized to make initial protest in Berlin on any further incidents without further authorization.

It was also agreed lack of legal basis for protest on rupture of communications should not prevent making protest for propaganda purposes. Schuman suggested it describe rupture as peculiar way of encouraging unification and acceptance of Potsdam principles.

Acheson

1. Repeated to London, Moscow, and Washington; the source text is the copy in Department of State files. Secretary Acheson was in Paris for the signing of the EDC Treaty and related documents.