301. Letter From Acting Secretary of State Lovett to Secretary of Defense Forrestal0
My Dear Mr. Secretary: As you know, the Office of Policy Coordination of the Central Intelligence Agency, established under NSC 10, is preparing to discharge its mandate to conduct political warfare. This political warfare program in Europe will be effective only if it receives the whole-hearted cooperation of the United States military authorities [Page 725] in Germany. Among other things, it may be necessary for the Director of the Office of Policy Coordination to make certain requests of these authorities concerning (a) political activity among refugees from the Soviet world and (b) handling of bona fide political refugees and deserters from the Soviet Zone. There may be other requests of this nature which will have to be made.
The Department of State considers that political warfare will be an important factor in the implementation of United States policies in the coming period. If effectively conducted, it may affect materially the possibilities for the achievement of United States objectives by means short of war.
For this reason, considerations of foreign policy require, in the view of this department, that every effort be made to assist the Director of the Office of Policy Coordination in the implementation of his programs. In particular, it hopes that he will have the full cooperation of the United States military establishment in Germany which is a key territory from the standpoint of political warfare.
It will be appreciated if you will instruct the American Military Governor in Germany, General Clay, in the sense of the foregoing.
Sincerely yours,
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945–49, 101.61/10–148. Top Secret. Drafted by Kennan on September 30. Sent to Lovett for signature under cover of a September 30 note from Kennan that reads: “Mr. Wisner is going to encounter, as one of his first major obstacles, the problem of cooperation with the Army in Germany. He has asked us to give him a boost in this respect. Here it is.” (Ibid.)↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Lovett signed the original.↩