Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

862B.49/11–1253: Telegram

No. 761
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Bonn, November 12, 1953—6 p.m.

1652. In conference attended by Mrs. Dulles, Thedieck explained definitive plans for continuing East Zone food action. Refer our 1320 repeated Berlin 260.²

1. Interzonal travelers resident East Zone can secure from any Kreis welfare office coupon entitling them to purchase DM 20 worth food at any store. Plan will probably also cover medicine. Apparently, one coupon to each traveler and no provision for renewal each month nor for coupons for family members not present. Food may be used at recipient’s discretion to support self while in West or to send home. Will encourage East Zone visits to West which otherwise impossible for lack of support while here. Thedieck says latest figures interzonal travel 200,000 per month and may increase December due to Christmas. To be conservative he estimated 150,000 coupons.

2. As indicated earlier cables this plan would also serve as cover for increased parcel shipments through various charitable organizations. Such shipments have increased from two to nearly three million in recent months and Thedieck speaks of shipments five to eight million in December for Christmas season. Large increase will take place anyway through genuine private shipments and how much larger increase can be realized by using US food support is, of course, unknown at present.

3. US foods will not be used directly in either coupon or parcel program but will be sold on regular market and proceeds used in one case to redeem coupons and in other to subsidize additional parcels.

4. We have been concerned over large residue of food not used in Berlin program. Federal Republic evidently expects to utilize this entire balance and much more since they are now requesting additional procurement. We still have some reservation on quantities needed in new program but like the Berlin action, adequate amounts must be available in case demand higher than anticipated. Note DM 20 coupon is nearly 4 times value Berlin parcel which weighed between six and seven pounds. Parcels paragraph 2 may average five pounds. Will send subsequent cable after we have analyzed request and satisfied selves as to justification.

5. Interzonal aid paragraph 1 can be publicized, but all agreed there must be no publicity over US participation in increased parcel shipments through charitable organizations and hence recipient will have no direct knowledge of US help. Interzonal operation will serve as a cover for time being but will not finally explain to Congress and American people where $15,000,000 food went. We understand no technical accounting problem arises since FOA has recognized necessary limitations and will be satisfied with accounting by German governmental agencies. Our concern what happens when someone adds up publicly known distribution figures and finds them thousands of tons short. It was suggested Department’s relations with Congress assured their discretion but this still leaves press as possible danger point. It was also suggested some general statement could be made we were satisfied German authorities had gotten food into East Zone hands by various means with perhaps general reference to parcel shipments. Agreed such remittee statements unobjectionable but again possibility arises newshounds would be set off hunting for story.

6. We believe programs paragraphs 1 and 2 must proceed since based on our promises already made but urge careful interagency consideration of problem paragraph 5 since statements and releases received here originating various sources Washington have not always followed consistent policy and proposed operation paragraph 2 might offer test of our ability to carry out promises to Germans of no publicity in quasi-undercover operation. Department may wish emphasize with other agencies that many East Germans, e.g., political prisoners, actually depend on present parcel shipments for existence. Hence, sensitivity to anything which risks interference and grave risk our relations and future policy if US publicity resulted in GDR stoppage parcels.

7. This message not coordinated with Mrs. Dulles who is in Berlin.

8. Separate cable follows on clothing program.³

Conant

1. Repeated to Berlin.
2. Telegram 1320 reported that Conant and Thedieck had held further discussions on the continuation of the food relief program, as discussed in telegram 1258 from Bonn, Document 755. (862B.49/10–653)
3. Reference is to telegram 1651 from Bonn, Nov. 12, in which Conant reported that Eleanor Dulles and Thedieck had agreed to combine a clothing program with the food relief program. (862B.49/11–1253)