Preface
This volume was prepared under the direct supervision of E. Ralph Perkins,
formerly Chief of the Foreign Relations Division, now headed by S. Everett
Gleason. The compilers and editors of the volume were John G. Reid, Velma
Hastings Cassidy, Ralph R. Goodwin, Herbert A. Fine, the late Gustave A.
Nuermberger, and former staff member Francis C. Prescott.
The technical editing of the volume and the preparation of the index were the
responsibility of the Publishing and Reproduction Services Division. These
functions were performed by the Historical Editing Section under Elizabeth A.
Vary, Chief, and Ouida J. Ward, Assistant Chief.
William M. Franklin
Director, Historical Office,
Bureau of Public Affairs
March
10, 1967
Principles for the Compilation and Editing of “Foreign
Relations”
The principles which guide the compilation and editing of Foreign Relations are stated in Department of State Regulation
1350 of June 15, 1961, a revision of the order approved on March 26, 1925,
by Mr. Frank B. Kellogg, then Secretary of State. The text of the current
regulation is printed below:
1350 Documentary Record of American
Diplomacy
1351 Scope of Documentation
The publication Foreign Relations of the United States,
Diplomatic Papers, constitutes the official record of the foreign
policy of the United States. These volumes include, subject to necessary
security considerations, all documents needed to give a comprehensive record
of the major foreign policy decisions within the range of the Department of
State’s responsibilities, together with appropriate materials concerning the
facts which contributed to the formulation of policies. When further
material is needed to supplement the documentation in the Department’s files
for a proper understanding of the relevant policies of the United States,
such papers should be obtained from other Government agencies.
[Page IV]
1352 Editorial Preparation
The basic documentary diplomatic record to be printed in Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, shall
be edited by the Historical Office, Bureau of Public Affairs of the
Department of State. The editing of the record shall be guided by the
principles of historical objectivity. There shall be no alteration of the
text, no deletions without indicating where in the text the deletion is
made, and no omission of facts which were of major importance in reaching a
decision. Nothing shall be omitted for the purpose of concealing or glossing
over what might be regarded by some as a defect of policy. However, certain
omissions of documents are permissible for the following reasons:
-
a.
- To avoid publication of matters which would tend to impede current
diplomatic negotiations or other business.
-
b.
- To condense the record and avoid repetition of needless
details.
-
c.
- To preserve the confidence reposed in the Department by
individuals and by foreign governments.
-
d.
- To avoid giving needless offense to other nationalities or
individuals.
-
e.
- To eliminate personal opinions presented in despatches and not
acted upon by the Department. To this consideration there is one
qualification—in connection with major decisions it is desirable,
where possible, to show the alternatives presented to the Department
before the decision was made.
1353 Clearance
To obtain appropriate clearances of material to be published in Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic
Papers, the Historical Office shall:
-
a.
- Refer to the appropriate policy offices of the Department and of
other agencies of the Government such papers as appear to require
policy clearance.
-
b.
- Refer to the appropriate foreign governments requests for
permission to print as part of the diplomatic correspondence of the
United States those previously unpublished documents which were
originated by the foreign governments.
