Office of the Historian

033.62A11/7–2754: Telegram

No. 249
The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn1

secret
Washington, July 27, 1954—7:53 p.m.

266. Limit distribution. From Secretary for Conant. I have discussed with the President the Chancellor’s proposed visit to Washington to address the American Legion Convention on August 30. Please convey to him a message along following lines.

“Ordinarily we should welcome a visit from the Chancellor as evidence of the strong bonds which exist between our two countries and as an indication of the mutual respect we have for one another. However, this visit would not be an official visit and it would come at a time when the President will be in Washington but only for a few hours in order to address the Convention and immediately fly away because of previous plans. We therefore feel that such a trip by the Chancellor under these conditions and without opportunity for President to receive him and talk with him at any length could be construed as rudeness. Also might be subject to misinterpretation and would in the end place both the Chancellor and the President in embarrassing positions.

We look forward to seeing, talking to and entertaining the Chancellor during his visit to receive an honorary degree from Columbia University which we understand is scheduled for the end of October and [during] which we anticipate making an official visit.”

I leave to your judgment whether or not you present such a message as a personal one from me. The President is willing to write a personal letter to the Chancellor if you think this advisable.

FYI but not to be passed to the Chancellor an additional consideration is our feeling that the announcement of the Chancellor’s [Page 587] visit to speak from same platform as President at almost same hour with the vote on EDC probably taking place in the French Assembly during the latter part of August might well be interpreted by the French as further pressure from outside and might therefore contribute to failure by the French to ratify.2

Dulles
  1. Drafted by Secretary Dulles and Lewis and cleared with Lyon, Barbour, and McIlvaine, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.↩
  2. On July 28 Conant reported that he had conveyed the message in this telegram to the Chancellor as coming from Secretary Dulles. (Telegram 307 from Bonn, 033.62A11/7–2854) On Aug. 2 he transmitted a short reply from the Chancellor stating that he had now declined the invitation from the American Legion and looked forward to visiting the United States at the end of October. (Telegram 349 from Bonn, 033.62A11/7–2854)↩