No. 775
Editorial Note
In late July 1954, heavy rains caused flooding along rivers in the German Democratic Republic as well as in Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Yugoslavia. On July 29, President Eisenhower made a statement offering assistance to flood victims in all of the affected areas. In a letter of July 30, to Soviet High Commissioner Pushkin, Conant pursued this offer by extending it specifically to the German Democratic Republic. On August 5, Pushkin replied by a letter in which he enclosed the acceptance of this offer by Grotewohl on behalf of the German Democratic Republic. Conant acknowledged this acceptance on August 6, recommending that the Red Cross be entrusted with administering the relief. President Eisenhower’s July 29 statement is printed in Department of State Bulletin, August 9, 1954, page 197; Conant’s letter of July 30 and Pushkin’s response of August 5 are ibid., August 16, 1954, page 240; Conant’s acknowledgment is ibid., [Page 1703] August 23, 1954, page 271. The first relief shipment arrived in the German Democratic Republic on December 3.