Office of the Historian

762A.00/7–2753: Telegram

No. 211
The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn1

confidential
Washington, July 30, 1953—6:28 p.m.

397. Department gratified at enthusiastic reception President’s letter,2 but has problem mentioned urtel 415 (repeated London 44 Paris 55)3 very much in mind and concurs that any support or concession given Adenauer between now and date German elections should be carefully examined lest it boomerang in sense you fear. We should not wish to damage campaign chances of such a valued supporter of Western policies as Adenauer has been by any action on our part which could be interpreted as interference in elections or would lend substance to opposition charge of “American puppet”.

Clear that Adenauer feels that much of his strength rests upon good relations established with West powers, especially US, and that success of his policies identified with success of West policies in general. This automatically provides opposition with opportunity to charge him with lack of independence and being too pro-American, charges which he can probably take in stride if issue not exaggerated out of all proportion. We feel that steps we have so far taken which include Adenauer visit, reception of Blankenhorn first June, President’s message June 26 [25],4 Tripartite communiqué and note, and President’s message July 23, have had optimum [Page 500] effect and, subject to your advice, should probably not be added to in near future.5

Dulles
  1. Drafted by Kidd; cleared by Bonbright, Matthews, WE, and EE; and initialed for the Secretary of State by Lewis. Repeated to London, Paris, and Berlin.↩
  2. Document 207.↩
  3. Telegram 415 reported that reaction to President Eisenhower’s letter among the coalition leaders had been favorable, but that SPD leaders had been violently opposed to what it regarded as a “brazen” attempt to swing the election in favor of Chancellor Adenauer. (762A.00/7–2753)↩
  4. Document 718.↩
  5. On July 31 Conant replied that he agreed with this position and stated that he understood he would be consulted before any new undertaking was made along similar lines. (Telegram 478 from Bonn, 762A.00/7–3153)↩