Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 2

No. 610

120.4351/2–251: Telegram

The Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Perkins) to the Secretary of State ¹

top secret

Paris, February 2, 1951—8 p. m.

4559. Chiefs Eastern Missions meeting at Paris, January 30–February 2² reached following conclusions and recommendations:

• I. Political matters.

  1. Consolidation Communist control over captive peoples in orbital countries has been extensively advanced during past year with conspicuous success in campaign against Church even though this organization remains only important factor opposition Communist regimes.

  2. Concentrated attempt being made in every satellite state improve political reliability and professional competence armed forces has been carefully noted. Although development military capabilities of Soviet Union and satellites progressing steadily (more rapidly in Hungary), present signs suggest this effort designed build up long term military strength rather than support hostilities in immediate future.

  3. It was agreed that notwithstanding difficulties dealing with exiles and organizations of exiles affiliated with NCFE these do furnish sources of hope to captive countries and useful focal points for activities in support cause of freedom.

• II. Economic matters.

  1. Extensive progress has been made during past year in eastern reorientation satellite economies. Economic integration Soviet bloc as self-sustaining unit raises question whether initiative in moving toward any severance economic relations between East and West does not lie with Moscow rather than with us.

  2. Every reasonable effort should be made by West countries withhold latest technical know-how from Soviet bloc, even though problem control in this field difficult, as means assuring continued technical superiority West.

  3. Concrete means should be taken to halt access by Soviet bloc to key raw materials such as rubber, tin, industrial diamonds, sisal, jute, et cetera.

  4. Present East-West trade export controls should continue under constant study to achieve maximum benefit to West. Following specific measures are recommended:

  a. Continuing consideration should be given to East-West trade agreements and their negotiation.

  b. Cooperation of countries outside consultative group with regard to export strategic materials should be obtained.

  c. Leakage of strategic materials to East should be prevented by adequate controls and enforcement.

  5. Development of alternative sources of supply and new markets for West European industry should be accelerated.

• III. Informational activities.

  1. The provision of assistance to VOA is regarded as one of primary functions of US mission in satellite country. Each mission should continue to supply suggestions and guidance so that VOA may appeal to local nationalism against unpopular Communist measures with view to undermining benefits derived by Soviet Union from domination captive countries.

  2. In regard to Soviet Union, it is necessary to lay even greater stress in VOA programs on building reputation for credibility through calm dispassionate recital of fact. This lays sound basis for combating Communist propaganda and for weakening position of Soviet state with Russian people.

• IV. Protective efforts.

  1. Application of reciprocal treatment is our best means of countering restrictions applied against our missions in East Europe. In applying such restrictions, there is no need for us to limit ourselves to duplicating restrictions against our personnel. For example, it might be useful to require:

  a. Exit permits as form of retaliatory action against restrictions imposed on our personnel; and

  b. Export permits as form of retaliation against restrictions on free entry imposed on our missions in East Europe.

  2. It is desirable that Department deny passports to individuals who have visited Hungary in violation of our ban on travel of American citizens in that country.

  3. Department should furnish American personnel in East European countries now documented with special passports with diplomatic passports for added protection.

  4. General evacuation of women and children should not be undertaken at this time.

• V. Administrative problems.

  1. In order to clarify what is desired in preparation of Joint Weeka, new formal instructions on its content and arrangement should be issued.

  2. Quarterly reports are considered more useful than monthly reports and are believed to permit the missions greater possibilities for comprehensive and interpretative analysis.

  3. The proper interpretation of significant information about Eastern developments with particular reference to Soviet intentions depends on careful coordination between our missions in East Europe, peripheral reporting centers, and the Department. The fundamental function of peripheral reporting centers should be to submit raw material data rather than to interpret such information.

  4. Administrative officers are performing an extremely valuable service at the East European posts. Further conferences of administrative officers, such as the one held at The Hague last autumn, would be helpful.

  5. It is viewed as of utmost importance for Department to press for arrangements, with respect to East European countries with which US has surplus property agreements, to permit procurement from surplus property funds of local currency at realistic rates of exchange for missions expenses.

  6. Standardization on one make auto at each post would be desirable.

  7. A disbursing officer and a radio operator assigned to the areas as roving replacements for personnel absent on leave or ill would contribute to more effective operation.

  8. For morale reasons, Department should explore possibility of bringing its personnel out of curtain countries on temporary duty in West Europe at periodic intervals.

[ Perkins ]

1. Repeated to Moscow, Praha, Warsaw, Budapest, and Bucharest.
2. The Chiefs of the Missions in Eastern European countries met in Paris January 30–February 2 to exchange views, discuss questions of mutual interest, and make recommendations to the Department of State. This was one of a series of such meetings held periodically by American diplomatic officers in various regions of the world. Participating in this meeting, chaired by Assistant Secretary Perkins, were: Ambassador in the Soviet Union Kirk, Ambassador in Czechoslovakia Briggs, Ambassador in Poland Flack, Chargé in Romania Gantenbein, and Chargé in Hungary Mokma. Much of the meeting was devoted to detailed situation reports by the various Chiefs of Mission. There were also discussions of Soviet short term and long term intentions, export controls, diplomatic reporting, the protection of American official personnel and private citizens, and administrative problems at the Eastern European posts. The 60-page report on the proceedings of the meeting and correspondence on the convening of the meeting are in file 120.4351 and Paris Embassy files, lot 58F53, 350—Ambassadors’meeting.