762.00/2–2450: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany ( McCloy ) to the Secretary of State
1644. I plan release statement along lines quoted at end this message to special conference with German and American press correspondents now fixed for February 28. Since it is probable statement will evoke queries at Secretary’s press conferences, I feel you should be forewarned.
[Page 603]Statement along these lines strongly urged by Berlin office and endorsed by PEP Committee1 as necessary move to launch counter-offensive propagandawise against Soviet zone elections, call for German unification now being made by Soviet-sponsored “national front”, present Soviet-SED tactics of purging anti-SED elements from East Zone CDU and LDP, and Dertinger (GDR FonMin) line advance in February 22 speech that only Soviet Union interested in German unification, conclusion of peace treaty and withdrawal of occupation forces.2
I have sought frame statement in language which may be expected to exert maximum psychological appeal to both East and West Germans, while staying within bounds of Department’s thinking as expressed in 1949 CFM working memoranda and other papers.3
Time has come, I believe, to recognize frankly that desire for unified Germany represents basic German aspiration and that unless we identify ourselves with that aspiration we will permit Soviets to make agitational and propagandistic capital at our expense. There are also advantages in statement on subject being made now and well in advance of anticipated “national front” all-German rally rumored to be planned for Hanover sometime within next few weeks.
As Department aware, I was on January 3 and February 10 queried in Berlin press conferences on matter all-German elections as means of unifying Germany and have made two rather brief and general statements on subject. Point of departure this statement, therefore, is one of expanding on American concept of free elections with particular reference to contrasts in Soviet zone and basic hypocrisy of “national front” call for German unification through national plebiscite or other medium of soliciting expression of German public opinion re German unity.
Issue of German unification will not only remain live one until Soviet zone elections are held but until unification becomes a fact. It will remain a basic political reality with which we must grapple and in respect of which we must ultimately evolve dynamic approach on tripartite basis which will capture imagination of West Germans and enlist full support of Bonn Government without weakening position that government. We run very serious risks, for reasons enumerated preceding paragraph, in permitting the Soviets to pose as sole champion of German unification and in permitting to go unchallenged those Soviet devices and pressures which seek to turn to Soviet advantage this German aspiration for unity.
[Page 604]I strongly feel, therefore, that western powers must seize immediate initiative in propaganda field at least and I regard my statement as an initial move to seize that initiative.
We must, moreover, be prepared to follow up on this subject and PEP Committee will give matter constant attention. I shall also from time to time submit concrete proposals for action since I realize that future steps should be closely coordinated with French, British and Bonn Governments. In respect this initial statement, however, either I shall not clear it at all because it constitutes in the main a restatement of our position or only clear it after you have given me your views.
Begin statement:
“I have on two recent occasions in Berlin stated that the political unification of Germany on the basis of free all-German elections is a major objective of United States policy.
The aspiration of the Germans for unity and freedom is now challenged by the Communists of the Soviet zone, who offer the device of a so-called ‘national front’ as a means to ‘democratic unity’. Elections in the East zone now scheduled for October 15 are proclaimed as affording an opportunity of expressing the people’s will. But only one kind of freedom will be permitted expression at these elections: Freedom to vote for a single list of candidates selected in advance only by the party elite which executes dictates of the Soviet Union.
In contrast to this travesty, the people of Western Germany enjoy the political freedoms so conspicuously absent in the East: The right to engage freely in party activity and the right to vote freely for any candidate.
We understand the universal German urge for unification and condemn the exploitation of that feeling by dishonest devices such as the Soviet-sponsored ‘national front’ and its proposed plebiscite. These devices fraudulently excite and exploit the natural wish of the German people for unity while denying to them the free and democratic processes by which unity can be attained. The reluctance of the Communist usurpers of East Germany to submit to free elections, or to permit the unification of Germany to proceed thereby, makes it abundantly clear that they are unwilling to trust the choice of the German people.
My government stands ready to assist the German people to achieve unity, based on true democratic principles and reflecting the aspirations of the entire German nation.
Unity and freedom can be attained in Germany only if there be full and equal opportunity for all parties throughout Germany to propose candidates, advance programs and compete for the electorate’s favor. All candidates must be assured complete freedom of action without discrimination or official favoritism, together with access to all essential media of communication and material facilities. Every voter must be assured the protection of the law in the free expression of his opinion at the polls. The press must have unhindered access to all areas in order to report the election compaign accurately.
Meanwhile, my government is extending its full support to that German Government which has evolved from those democratic [Page 605] processes of which I speak and to which all Germans can aspire.”4
Sent Department 1644, repeated Berlin 88.
- Regarding the Political Economic Project Committee (PEPCO), see footnote 3, p. 825.↩
- For documentation on events of significance in the Soviet Zone of Germany, see pp. 942 ff.↩
- For documentation on the sixth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, in Paris, May 23–June 20, 1949, see Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. iii, pp. 856 ff.↩
- In telegram 1255, February 25, to Frankfort, not printed, McCloy was authorized to make the release and informed that the Department of State agreed on the need “to seize initiative from Sovs on Ger unity question.” (762A.00/2–2550) At the February 27 PEPCO meeting, minor textual changes were made in this draft and copies of the subsequent text provided for the British and French as well as for Adenauer, Schumacher, and Reuter. For the text of the statement as released, see Documents on German Unity (Frankfort, Office of the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany, 1951), p. 147. A record of the PEPCO meeting on February 27, a copy of the press release, and the transcript of McCloy’s press conference on February 28 are in Bonn Embassy Files, McCloy Project: Lot 311: Box 3: D (50)524, 531, 533.↩