Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Berlin Crisis, 1959–1960; Germany; Austria, Volume IX

268. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany⁰

Washington, June 11, 1958, 11:18 a.m.

3156. Bonn for Ambassador, Berlin for Gufler. Bonn’s 1366 [3666].¹ Suggest you make, in your discretion, following comments to Chancellor re US action in obtaining release crew and passengers Army helicopter forced down East Germany:

1. Requests for return, including personal letter Gen. Hodes to Gen. Zakharov,² already made in accordance procedures followed since 1945. No reply yet from Soviets.

2. We hope Soviets will arrange for return but becoming clearer and clearer Soviets and East Germans will exploit incident to force some type US–GDR communications or contacts.

3. Public opinion obliges us obtain early release and refusal deal with East Germans this connection will be seen in public eye as “standing on ceremony” particularly in view precedents dealing with Chinese Communists and North Koreans for similar purpose.

4. Under these circumstances, indicating at this stage our readiness deal with East Germans to effect release appears preferable allowing matter to develop into big issue and then being forced to back down.

5. Above thinking explains statement which Secretary made to press yesterday.³ (Chancellor should be given verbatim text.)

6. As Secretary indicated, no question of GDR recognition involved.

7. We have not yet worked out next step to be taken if Soviet reply entirely negative. However, we are aware of problem of Communist exploitation of US–GDR contacts and will try to evolve formulas and procedures best suited to maintaining Western position and preventing exploitation adverse to our interests. Our reply might take form asking Soviets to make any necessary arrangements with East German authorities for return crew and plane and offer services personnel (probably from Potsdam Mission) if necessary to facilitate return. This reply might best be through military channels.

8. At moment we still awaiting Soviet reply to Hodes before taking further action.⁴

You may wish inform your UK, French and, at appropriate point, your Belgian colleagues of our position. We are of course bearing in mind relationship to Belgian case.⁵

Dulles

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762B.5411/6—1158. Secret; Niact. Drafted by McKiernan, cleared by Lisle and Calhoun, and approved by Kohler. Repeated priority to Paris and Berlin.
1. In telegram 3666 from Bonn, June 11, received in Washington at 6:39 a.m., Bruce reported that he was seeing the Chancellor at 6:30 p.m. that day and wanted the latest information on the helicopter case. (Ibid.)
2. Dated June 8, this 2-paragraph note requested the return of the helicopter and crew. (SX 4460, DA IN 123007; Washington National Records Center, RG 319, Headquarters Department of the Army, Communication Center Files)
3. For a transcript of Secretary Dulles’ press conference on June 10, see Department of State Bulletin, June 30, 1958, pp. 1085–1090.
4. On June 12, General Zakharov replied that the helicopter case was solely within the competence of the German Democratic Republic. (SX 4558, transmitted in telegram 3696 from Bonn, June 12; Department of State, Central Files, 762B.5411/6–1258)
5. On June 12, Bruce reported that he had seen the Chancellor who “was not unduly concerned over helicopter incident,” but who hoped it could be settled without direct conversations with the East Germans. (Telegram 3684 from Bonn; ibid.)