Office of the Historian

Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Eisenhower to Adenauer”

No. 752
President Eisenhower to Chancellor Adenauer1

secret
Washington, September 21, 1953.

Dear Mr. Chancellor: Thank you for your letter of August 30, 19532 in which you expressed the gratitude of the people of East Berlin and the Soviet occupied zone for the help given by the US in the food relief program. I am glad that this program has helped to alleviate the great need of these unfortunate people whose courage in the face of oppression has been admired the world over.

At the same time you call my attention to the need for warm clothing and footwear for these same people, need which might become acute during the coming winter. I can assure you that this Government is aware of this need. It is my belief that the American people will gladly and liberally respond to your plea as many of them have done in similar situations in the past through various voluntary agencies. I shall, therefore, bring your letter to the attention of the American people knowing that they will contribute generously to the organizations which will undertake to provide such clothing and other required and related items.

Accept, [etc.]3

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower
  1. This letter was transmitted in a copy of telegram 880 to Bonn, Sept. 16. When President Eisenhower signed the letter on Sept. 21, he made certain non-substantive changes which were reproduced on the copy of the telegram retained in Department of State files. The text as printed here incorporates these changes.↩
  2. Document 744.↩

  3. In a letter of Sept. 26, transmitted to Washington in telegram 1259 from Bonn, Sept. 30, Chancellor Adenauer replied to the President’s letter as follows:

    “I thank you sincerely for your kind letter of 21 September and for the great understanding expressed therein regarding my wish to help the population of the eastern sector of Berlin and of the Soviet-occupied zone with warm clothing and shoes, now that winter is imminent. I am convinced that this call for aid to mitigate the distress prevailing in the Soviet-occupied parts of Germany, will find a response with the American people who so often have shown in such a generous manner a readiness to help people in distress.

    “Accept [etc.]” (862B.49/9–3053)

    ↩