61. Letter From Secretary of State Dulles to Chancellor Adenauer 1
My Dear Chancellor Adenauer : I have your personal note of June 22.2 I thank you for having alerted me to the rumors regarding [Page 130] a prospective invitation to Bulganin and Khrushchev to come to Washington. I can assure you that nothing of that sort is now in contemplation, nor do I see any likelihood of the situation developing in such a way as to make such an invitation seem desirable. No consideration whatever is being given to it.
If it ever did come up for serious consideration, I know that the point of view which you represent would be given great weight.
I have been talking recently with my brother, Allen Dulles, about the possibility of somewhat more affirmative policies as regards conditions in East Germany. We think this is a matter as to which the Federal Republic is both best informed and most concerned. However, we do feel that developments resulting from our publication of the Khrushchev speech create opportunities which should not be allowed to pass. The outbreak which occurred yesterday at Poznan illustrates what must be the growing discontent within the satellite areas.
As I pointed out in my press conference earlier this week,3 I think that the Soviet rulers face a grave dilemma. They cannot maintain their iron rule without terrorism, and yet they cannot reconcile terrorism with their new professions and their now public attacks on Stalin for his terrorism.
Allen’s people may be getting in touch with you, and I hope that if they do, some ideas may develop. You can count upon us to be of any appropriate assistance.
With very best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Adenauer. Personal and Private. Attached to a June 30 letter from Macomber to Conant informing the Ambassador of the contents of the letters exchanged by Dulles and Adenauer,.↩
- This note stated that the rumor of a visit by Bulganin and Khrushchev to Washington had probably originated with the Soviets. Adenauer added that such an invitation would be considered in Germany “as a complete reversal of the foreign policy pursued by America up until this time and that the policies of the Federal Republic would be damaged thereby.” (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204, German Officials with Dulles/Herter 1953–59)↩
- For the transcript of Dulles’ press conference on June 27, see Department of State Bulletin, July 9, 1956, pp. 47–53.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩