Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Central and Southeastern Europe, Volume XXVI

85. Letter From Chancellor Adenauer to Secretary of State Dulles¹

Bonn, December 8, 1956.

My Dear Mr. Dulles: I feel moved to convey to you some thoughts on the occasion of your participation in the NATO Council meeting.

As you may imagine, I am watching the situation and developments in the Eastern Bloc with the greatest attention since these developments are perhaps of decisive importance for the fate of Europe. My observations and considerations lead me to the following conclusions:

1. Soviet Russia’s ruling class continues to be firmly convinced that Communism under Soviet leadership will gain control over the world. This may sound improbable to people of our mentality, but nevertheless it is so. It can be accounted for only if the mentality of the atheistic dictatorship and the faith of the Russians in their mission are taken into consideration. In the past—and this includes me personally—we have had similar experiences in Germany when the National Socialist dictatorship and the doctrine that National Socialism would dominate the world completely, radically changed the thinking of people. I believe that the politicians of all free nations should never lose sight of the fact that the Russians are completely governed by the faith that Communism will rule the world.

2. Soviet Russia—even if she continues her tactics of concentrating her action sometimes on one and sometimes on another spot of the globe—will not reach her aim unless she succeeds in dominating Western Europe, and the Russians are well aware of this. It is a fact that they will never be able to gain world domination with the aid of Asiatic peoples alone. Europe and not Asia holds the key to Russian world domination.

3. To be sure, a world power like the United States will have to pay attention also to the problems arising outside Europe. It is my firm conviction, however, that the fate of humanity and thus of the United States, too, will depend on what becomes of Europe.

4. The Almighty has entrusted the United States with world leadership, thus imposing an obligation concomitant with the power that has accrued to the United States.

I would ask you, therefore, my dear Mr. Secretary, to take into consideration the above ideas when pursuing your policy, notwithstanding the numerous mistakes and omissions of which the European side might rightly be accused.

Recent developments in Soviet Russia and in the nations of the Eastern Bloc prove that time is working in favor of the free nations, unless the Russians are given new hope that they will yet succeed in overcoming their difficulties.

Wishing from the bottom of my heart that your stay in Europe may not prejudice your speedy recovery,² I remain, as ever,

Yours,

Adenauer

³

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 740.5/12–1156. Confidential; Limited Distribution. Transmitted in Secto 9 from Paris, December 11, which is the source text, with the following notation: “Brentano handed to Secretary this morning letter from Adenauer dated December 8, translation of which follows. Secretary plans reply to this letter from Paris.” Dulles was in Paris attending the North Atlantic Council meeting.
2. On November 3, Dulles underwent surgery.
3. Secto 9 bears this typed signature. In a brief reply, dated December 12, Dulles thanked the Chancellor for his thoughts and stated that his estimate of the situation was similar to the Chancellor’s. (Secto 13 from Paris; Department of State, Central Files, 740.5/12–1256)