274. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles and the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Elbrick)0
TELEPHONE CALL TO MR ELBRICK
The Sec asked re the flyers in East Germany—have we dropped any direct efforts with the East Germans. E said yes. We got nowhere when the military went to call on the E German Fonmin—we went back to the Soviets and told them of the difficulties but have had no reply and that is why Murphy is seeing Striganoff now.1 This does not preclude our working with them at whatever level we might designate. The Belgians did this and it did not cause much concern. The Sec said recognition is a matter of intent. If you sign a piece of paper without intent….2 E said the legal people have a different view. We have been proceeding on that basis, but it became sticky so we went back to the Russians. We may have to return to the E Germans. They agreed we should coordinate with the FedRep.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. No classification marking. Drafted and initialed by Bernau.↩
- Since no reply had been received to the aide-mémoire of June 20, Murphy called Striganov in again on July 1, repeated the arguments that had been presented on the previous occasion, and gave the Soviet Chargé” a second aide-mémoire reiterating the responsibility of the Soviet Union for the helicopter and its passengers. (Memorandum of conversation, July 1; Department of State, Central Files, 762B.5411/7–158) For text of the aide-mémoire, see Department of State Bulletin, July 21, 1958, p. 108.↩
- Ellipsis in the source text.↩