Office of the Historian

107. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State0

Bonn, March 31, 1960, 11 a.m.

1880. Embassy telegram 1743, Embassy airgram G–488.1 I am increasingly disturbed by frustration evinced FedRep, in press and non-official circles, at failure Germany’s allies, particularly U.S., to rally to its support in face of sustained defamation campaign orchestrated by Soviets and evoking, for obvious historical reasons, widespread echoes in West. Communist propaganda is tirelessly representing FedRep in terms which, it seems to Germans, have made considerable impression on world opinion and partially succeeded in recreating moral isolation of immediate post-war period. In this atmosphere Western reaction to anti-semitic incidents, Spanish bases issue, etc., has led Germans to question whether any amount of “good behavior” can restore them to equal status in Western society. More thoughtful members of American [Page 264] press corps here have confirmed that disillusion is spreading among younger Germans, and have expressed view that we should take steps reassure German public opinion of our continued confidence in German democracy.

I would hope therefore that administration leaders would seek early occasions such as White House press conference, to express appreciation political and spiritual integrity of German democracy and FedRep’s growing contribution to free world.

It would be particularly useful if the Secretary would consider devoting some remarks this subject in his April 4th NAB speech.2

Dowling
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/3–3160. Secret.↩
  2. Telegram 1743, March 11, is printed as Document 86. G–488, March 12, transmitted an assessment of the current German mood. (Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/3–1260)↩
  3. Based on this telegram and a strong recommendation by EUR, Secretary Herter’s speech in Chicago was revised to include a new section repudiating Soviet charges against Adenauer and praising the Federal Republic of Germany as a worthy and respected ally. (Memorandum from Berding to Herter, March 31; ibid., 762.00/3–3160) For text of Herter’s speech to the National Association of Broadcasters at Chicago, April 4, see Department of State Bulletin, April 25, 1960, pp. 635–640.↩