293. Airgram From the Mission at Berlin to the Department of State0
G–412. Sov handling C-47 incident (full account reported by USMLM contained in Berlin’s G–410, G–411)1 was marked by restraint, [Page 760] correctness and polite courteous treatment of American personnel involved. In comparison basically similar helicopter incident two years ago which became cause celebre, Sov handling this time shows how things can go if Sovs do not wish make political issue. In helicopter incident, Sovs decided turn over jurisdiction to GDR authorities. In this case, Sovs kept GDR entirely out of case. It is true that General Jakubovsky’s letter concerning release of plane passengers and crew referred to agreement of GDR authorities. (Ref ourtel 883 to Dept rpt 761 to Bonn.)2 Also protocol signed by USMLM (G–411) referred to a violation of “German Democratic Republic” air space. However these references were certainly minimal; important is fact that Sovs themselves handled case, without trying shift responsibility to GDR and without any participation of GDR representatives.
We assume from oblique reference in his May 20 address in East Berlin that Khrushchev already knew of C-47 forced landing earlier that day.3 It is likely that direct instructions were given to handle case in this way if C-47 turned out to be innocent plane that strayed from course. Perhaps Khrushchev did not want to distract attention from U-2 case, in UN proceedings and otherwise.4 Also in post-Summit letdown if SED regime obliged to wait another six or eight months, there was hardly profit to be obtained by regime from trying exploit such case at this time.
In keeping with Sov handling, East German press has remained remarkably quiet on C-47 incident, carrying only tiny factual news items on forced landing and on subsequent release, without any editorial comment whatsoever.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762B.5411/5–2860. Confidential. Also sent to Bonn and repeated to London, Paris, Moscow, Copenhagen, and POLADUSAREUR.↩
- Both dated May 27; G–410 reported on a meeting with Soviet authorities in East Germany on May 24 concerning the release of the crew of a C-47 which had landed in the Soviet Zone on May 20. G–411 transmitted the text of the protocol releasing the crew. (Both ibid., 762B.5411/5–2760)↩
- Dated May 24, telegram 883 from Berlin transmitted the text of Yakubovski’s letter to Eddelman.↩
- For text of Khrushchev’s address in Berlin on May 20, see Dokumente, Band 4, 1960, Zweiter Halbband, pp. 106C-1068.↩
- For documentation on the U-2 incident, May 1, 1960, see volume X.↩