23. Editorial Note
At his press conference on November 7, Secretary of State Dulles was asked the following question:
“Mr. Secretary, East German Communists have begun to say repeatedly that West Berlin belongs to East Germany and have begun to compare it to Quemoy. Do you see any potential clanger in this kind of propaganda campaign?”
Dulles replied:
“No. I see no danger in it, because, as I pointed out, we are most solemnly committed to hold West Berlin, if need be by military force. That is a very solemn and formal three-power commitment to which the United States stands bound. I think as long as we stand firm there, and the Communists know we will stand firm, that there is no danger to West Berlin.”
For the transcript of this press conference, see Department of State Bulletin, November 24, 1958, pages 809–814.