KERSTEN COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00682R000300030061-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2001
• Sequence Number: 61
• Publication Date: April 23, 1954
• Content Type: TELEGRAM

DEPApp o For OF Release STAT
Aro JW~T W-gR%P91, 682R 0030061-2
CONFIDEIvTIAL
NO.:
m6o89 April 23, 1954+
SUBJECT: Kersten.Committee Interviews
TO:
Cif
CSD
State Dept. re
HICOG, Bonn
Consulate General, Munich
References Department telegram to Bonn 2906 , Rptd Munich 347,
dated Apr, 15,
I, Aide Menjoire from Federal. Republic dated March 31, 1954
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has upon request
reconsidered its previous decision with respect to the desire of the
Select Committee of the House of Representatives under the Chairman-
ship of Congressman Charles J. Kersten to hold open hearings in Germany
for the purpose of studying the communist tactics in the seizure of
power in the communist dominated countries of Central and Eastern
Europe.
The Federal Republic regrets that it cannot change its decision,,
However, desiring to cooperate to the greatest possible extent, it
interposes no objection, the United States Government attaching
importance to this project, to give its consent to the holding of
private interviews in the U.S. Consulate General at Munich, Germany,
on the understanding thats
(a) The interviews will be conducted in privates and
(b) The subject matter covered in the interviews will be confined
as explained to Ambassador Krekeler by Congressman Kerstens to a
study of the tactics employed in the communist seizure of power in
communist dominated areas of Central and Eastern Europe Sand will avoid
a discussion of delicate and speculative political issues which is
liable to be detrimental to the interests of the Federal Republic of
Germany.
With respect to (a) above, it is the understanding of the
Government of the Federal Republic that the private interviews con-
templated will not be open to the public or the press and that none
of the subject matter covered in such interviews will be disclosed
to the public or the press during the Committee's stay in Germany.
iew completed
CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFTED BY:
E GFR&GWLewisamds 4/2/54: APPROVED BY: Geoffrey W. Lewis
CLEARANCES
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 CIA-RDP9 O682R000300030061-2
IT. Letter from Assistant Secretary Morton to Congressman Kersten
dated April 1, 19548
Dear Mr, Kerstens
The Department has received the attached Aide-Memoire from the Diplomatic
Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany4 You will note that the Federal
Republic is willing to agree to private interviews conducted by the Committee
in the U.S. Consulate Generallat Munich subject to certain understandings.
The representative of the Mission, in further elaboration of the under-
standings expressed in the Aide-Memoire, gave as illustration of the type of
.subjects, the discussion of which might be detrimental to the interests of the
Federal Republic, the Oder-Neisse Line, and the Sudeten German question. In
order to insure against any discussion which might inadvertently be detrimental
-.i the interests of the Federal Republic, I am sure that the Committee will wish
to lyre the judgment of officers of the Department who are most familiar with
the Federal Republic ' s situation. This can best be accomplished by seeking the
advice of the U.S. Consul General at Munich and his staff and by arranging
for officers of the Department to review, with the staff of the Committee,,
transcripts of the interviews prior to their incorporation into the record of
the Corimittee m
With respect to disclosures to the press and public, the Department pointed
otit to the representative of the Mission that the Committee would undoubtedly
be questioned by newspaper representatives. The Department inquired whether the
understanding expressed in the Aide?Memoire would preclude any response to such
questions. The representative indicated that the Government of the Federal
Republic would not consider that the understanding precluded statements by the
Committee as to their purpose in being in Germany, provided such statements
remained within the terms of the understanding. In this connection the Committee
might wish, upon announcing its departure for Germany, to issue a press release
which might be mutually agreed by the Committee and the Department of State.
Any subsequent statements to the press could then be kept within the context of
such release.
The Department understands that the Committee may wish to bring certain
witnesses to Munich from outside Germany. The Department is confident that the
Committee understands that this will not be possible in the case of any indi-
vidual whose admission to Germany is opposed by the Federal Republic,
If the Committee agrees., the Department proposes to send the attached reply
to the Federal Republic?s Aide.Memoire,
Sincerely yours,
Thruston B. Morton
Assistant Secretary
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CONFIDENTIAL
(Security Classification)
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III. Letter from Representative Kersten to Assistant Secretary Morton
dated April 16, 1954
Dear Mr. Morton:
This is with reference to your letter of April 1st enclosing a copy
of Aide-Meraoire from the Diplomatic Mission of the Federal Republ c:: of
Germany., together with proposed Draft Aide?Memoire to the Diplomatic Mission
of the Federal Republic of Germany,
The Committee is in complete agreement with the Department's proposed
reply to the AidemMMemoire from the Diplomatic Mission of the Federal Republic
of Germany,, and has asked me to express appreciation to the Government of the
Federal Republic of Germany for its cooperation and the courtesies which have
been extendedm
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Department of State for
its fine assistance inthis matter., as well as express my personal thanks to
you.
Sincerely yours,.
Charles J. Kersten
Chairman
IV. Aide'Mermmoire from Department to Mission of Federal Republic of Germany
dated April 23., 1954.
The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the receipt
of the Aide-Memoire dated March 31, 1954 from the Mission of the Federal
Republic of Germany.
The Department of State is gratified to learn that the Government of
the Federal Republic of Germany has no objection to the holding of private
interviews in the United States Consulate General at L .i,ch, Germany., by
the Select Committee of the House of Representatives under the Chairmanship
of Representative Charles J. Kersten. The Department confirms that the
United States Goverment attaches importance to this project.
The Department has transmitted a copy of the Aide-MOmoire of the Federal
Republic to Representative Kersten, accompanied by a letter a copy of which
is attached. Representative Kersten has advised the Department that the Comrw
mittee desires to conduct such interviews in accordance with the understandings
set forth in the Aide-Memoirs and as elaborated in the Department's letter
The Committee-now plans to go to Germany for this purpose early in June.
L ACTING
OONFID `TAL
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