Office of the Historian

862A.501/4–253: Telegram

No. 176
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State1

secret
Bonn, April 2, 1953—6 p.m.

4468. As reported in Berlin’s 1393 to Department, repeated Bonn 1501, Paris 109, London 71,2 Council decided to defer action on Chancellor’s request for increase in strength of federal frontier police.

[Page 424]

At our meeting with Chancellor on March 30 he continued to press for this increase and sent Interior Minister Lehr to see us yesterday to argue that it is urgently needed as protection against threats to public order. His arguments were, however, based upon need for federal police force at disposal of Federal Government rather than upon necessity of strengthening border protection as he cited example of potential disorders created by Communist agitation and threats of internal unrest caused by possible strikes. He said although increased border police would be stationed near the line, they could be used by Federal Government in emergency.

In part pressure for increase at this time seems due to desire of government to show prior to elections it has taken every means in its power to protect public order, and due to reluctance of opposition to be placed in position of objecting to such measures.

French HICOM informs us that Paris continues strongly opposed to increase at this time and that Mayer has sent new instructions pointing out that chance of ratification in France will be seriously damaged if Chancellor persists in going ahead with measure.

Even if Chancellor does not himself bring up this issue during his Washington talks, it seems to us important particularly in view French position that further effort be made to persuade him to drop matter at least for present.

Conant
  1. Repeated to Paris, London, and Berlin.↩
  2. Telegram 1393 reported on the meeting of the Council of the Allied High Commission for Germany, held at Berlin on Mar. 28, at which, inter alia, it was agreed to defer action on the request for an increase in the border police and to inform Chancellor Adenauer accordingly. (762A.0221/3–2853)↩