Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 1

700.5 MSP/3–1654: Telegram

No. 291
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey¹

secret

Washington, March 16, 1954—6: 30 p.m.

320. Congressional inquiry Secretary Defense transmitted Department on subject number Communist and non-Communist employees and relative strength Communist and non-Communist unions in individual plants with OSP contracts. Info also needed in preparation FOA–State Congressional presentations Mutual Security program on policy considerations and procedures related labor factor in placing OSP contracts. Re countries other than Italy, France and Greece is it accurate describe situation as no OSP plants having significant number Communists or Communist union representation? Appreciate general analysis and details as available. Re Italy, France and Greece country team requested supply general analysis and available details re individual plants where bulk of orders placed. Useful receive from each country team info re procedures followed in evaluating labor factors OSP contracting (Circular Airgrams, unnumbered, January 21, 1952 and February 27, 1952)² as well as other material considered helpful this subject not limited to Communist problem. In addition helpful have info supplied country team this subject to Senate Subcommittee recent visit Europe. Also request report on meetings with Subcommittee in Paris February 27 with USRO officials and several labor attachés.

All info needed Washington before end March.³

Dulles

1. This telegram, which was drafted and signed for the Secretary by Horowitz, was cleared in draft by Mintzes, Blumberg, Levy-Hawes, Barnett, Fidel, and Lincoln. It was also sent to Athens, Brussels, Bonn, Copenhagen, The Hague, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Oslo, Paris for Embassy and USRO, and Rome and was repeated for information to Frankfurt for USCINCEUR.
2. Neither printed. The unnumbered 12-page circular airgram of Jan. 21, 1952, set forth certain procedures and purposes in implementing the offshore procurement program in Europe including plant selection, contract letting, and labor policy and guidance. (700.5 MSP/1–2152) The circular airgram of Feb. 27, 1952, reads in part: “The off-shore procurement program must be conducted in such a way as to win the support of European workers and strengthen and keep the good will of the democratic trade unions by supporting good working conditions and by favoring firms sympathetic to free as against Communist trade unions. It is imperative that this be fully appreciated, for if off-shore procurement is not conducted with due regard to the labor aspects and implications, the program may turn out to be a boon to Communist propaganda and Communist strength.” (700.5 MSP/2–2752)
3. The posts queried replied quickly and briefly to the questions contained in this telegram. Telegram 783 from Ankara, Mar. 19, stated simply that the Communist Party was illegal in Turkey and that there were probably no Communists in OSP plants. (782.001/3–1954) Telegram 2330 from Athens, Mar. 27, also rejected the possibility of large Communist infiltration of OSP plants. (781.5 MSP/3–2754) Telegram 3466 from Paris, Mar. 22, stated that the report on information given by the country team to Senators Symington and Bridges during their recent trip to France had been transmitted in telegram Tousfo A–396, Mar. 10 (not found in Department of State or Foreign Operations Administration files) and other information requested would follow. (751.5 MSP/3–2754) However, no other telegram was sent on the matter prior to the end of the month. Telegram 547 from Oslo, Mar. 26, stated: “There are no Communist unions in any Norwegian plant holding OSP contract”. (757.5 MSP/3–2654) Telegrams 2839, Mar. 19 and 3160, Apr. 9, from Rome, stressed the difficulty in making an accurate determination given the paucity of available personnel and the imminent deadline for placing offshore procurement contracts. (765.5 MSP/3–1954 and 4–954)