PROPOSAL TO SEND UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOODSTAFFS TO EAST GERMANY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003300290005-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2005
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: July 7, 1953
• Content Type: MF

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BUREAU OF GERMkN AFFAIRS
July 7, 1953
TO: U - General Smith
THROUGH: S/S
FROM: GER - James W. Riddleberger
SUBJECT: Food for East Germany
The following report on the plans which have been developed on the
proposed shipment of food to Eastern Germany is transmitted for your
information and for discussion at the luncheon of the Psychological
Strategy Board on Wednesday, July 8th.
Method of Initiation
It has been determined that the best possible method of initiating
the project is to ask Chancellor Adenauer to send a request to the President
for food for the East German population. The President would then respond
by sending a note to the government of the USSR, to be delivered at Moscow,
in which he points out that the United States is anxious to help those in
need of food; that the United States has always put humanitarian considera-
tions in the forefront of its political actions and that the United States
feels a special responsibility in this case as a co-occupying power in
Germany.
Other possible approaches have been considered but none seem to have
the psychological and political advantages which this approach seems to
offer. An approach through the High Commissioners would automatically
require a tripartitely coordinated position which might be difficult to
obtain, aside from the fact that the Western High Commissioners have not
yet established normal relations with the new Soviet High Commissioner for
Germany. If humanitarian considerations were to take precedence over the
psychological advantages to be gained and the amount of food to be offered
were to be reduced considerably, the E area believes that without United
States governmental intervention and by unobtrusive methods through church
circles, some food could be gotten into Eastern Germany.
Food Available
The bulk of the food shipments will probably come from United States
surpluses including grain, soy bean oil, lard, sugar, dry skim milk and some
meat. Initially, while shipment of these foods is in progress, some army
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"C's rations" now available in Europe and some food from a stock pile in
Vienna now being liquidated could be shipped to Eastern Germany to prevent
any significant delay in the arrival of food. We believe that the total
food shipments should be in the value of approximately $15 million.
Distribution
The method of distributing the food in Eastern Germany will be decided
upon after Soviet acceptance, if it should take place. We would then try
to meet Chancellor Adenauerrs ideas which call for a distribution of the
food through the Protestant and Catholic churches. The food should be
slated for distribution primarily in urban centers and other disaster areas
and should be designed to relieve the food situation through September
when the new harvest will have been brought in. This would alleviate the
immediate crisis but cause no long-range change in the deteriorating
economic conditions in the East Zone.
Legislation
We believe that satisfactory legislation will be available, subject,
of course, to Congressional consultation. Specifically, Section 114(h) of
the NSA Act for 1953 and Section 513(b) of the NSA Act for 1954 can be
cited as authorizations for this type of program. The Kersten Amendment
also provides authorization but the Legal Advisor would prefer not to cite
it. The transfer of funds under the authorization is now being explored by
NSA.
Coordination
We have kept High Commissioner Conant and Ambassador Bohlen fully
informed of our plans. The British and French Ambassadors should be
informed in order to permit our statement to indicate that the United
Kingdom and France have been consulted and agree with our offer.
Immediate Procedure
Should the Psychological Strategy Board approve the project substantially
as outlined above, we have arranged with High Commissioner Conant that on the
basis of the telephone call on Wednesday afternoon, July 8, he will request
Chancellor Adenauer to send a message to the.President asking for the food
shipment. As soon thereafter as Embassy Moscow can make arrangements, a
note offering the shipment substantially as outlined in paragraph 1 above
will be presented at the Foreign Office in Moscow. This note would be
released by the President on Friday or Saturday., thus permitting us to take
action on this project this week.
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Recommendations
It is recommended that you present this progress report to the
Psychological Strategy Board at its luncheon on Wednesday, July 8j and
recommend approval of the project substantially as outlined above.
Following approval of the project as outlined above,, a text of the
note to be delivered by Enbassy Moscow and a text of the press statement
to be issued by the President will be prepared.
GER/P~bpc
SECRET
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 Approved For Release
OLU OF
7s 1953
U - General Smith
S/S
GM - James W. Riddleberger
SUBJECTt Food for East Germany
The following report on the plans which have been developed on the
proposed shipment of food to Eastern Germany is transnitted for your
information and for discussion at the luncheon of the Psychological
Strategy Board on Wednesdays July ath.
Method of Initiation
It has been determined that the best possible method of initiating
the project is to ask Chancellor Adenauer to send a request to the President
for food for the East German population. The President would then respond
by sending a note to the government of the USSR, to be delivered at Moscow.,
in which he points out that the United States is anxious to help those in
need of food; that the United States has always put humanitarian considera-
tions in the forefront of its political actions and that the United States
feels a special responsibility in this case as a co-occupying power in
Germany,
Other possible approaches have been considered but none seem to have
the psychological and political advantages which this approach seems to
offer. An approach through the High Commissioners would automatically
require a tripartitely coordinated position which might be difficult to
obtain, aside from the fact that the Western High Conmissioners have not
yet established normal relations with the new Soviet High Commissioner for
Germany. If humanitarian considerations were to take precedence over the
psychological advantages to be gained and the amount of food to be offered
were to be reduced considerably,, the E area believes that without United
States governmental intervention and by unobtrusive methods through church
circles, some food could be gotten into Eastern Germany.
Available
The bulk of the food shipments will probably come fron United States
surpluses including grain.,- soy bean oil, lard, sugar, dry skim milk and some
Initially., while shipment of these foods is in progress, some army
0=
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"2-
"C" rations" now available in Europe and some food frown, a stock pile in
Vienna now being liquidated could be shipped to Eastern Germany to prevent
&:4V significant delay in the arrival of food. We believe that the total
food shipments should be.-in the value of approximately 415 million.
try butte
The method of distributing the food in Eastern Germany will be decided
upon after Soviet acceptance? if it should take place. We would then try
to sheet Chancellor Adenauerts ideas which call for a distribution of the
food through the Protestant and Catholic churches. The food should be
slated for distribution primarily in urban centers and other disaster areas
and should be designed to relieve the food situation through September
when the new harvest will have been brought in. This would alleviate the
immediate crisis but cause no long-range change in the deteriorating
economic conditions in the East Zone.
Le'T' .sla lion
We believe that satisfactory legislation will be available, subject,
of course, to Congressional consultation. Specifically, Section 114h ) of
the MSA Act for 1953 and Section 513(b) of the NSA Act for 1954 can be
cited as authorizations for this type of program. The Kersten Amendment
also provides authorization but the Legal Advisor would prefer not to cite
it. The transfer of funds under the authorization is now being explored by
1A.
c1rdination
We have kept High Commissioner Conant and Ambassador Bohlen fully
informed of our plans. The British and French Ambassadors should be
informed in order to permit our statement to indicate that the United
Kingdom and France have been consulted and agree with our offer.
&ped te Procedure
Should the Psychological Strategy Board approve the project substantially
as outlined above, we have arranged with High Commissioner Conant that on the
basis of the telephone call on Wednesday afternoon, July 8, he will request
Chancellor Adenauer to send a message to the President asking for the food
shipment. As soon thereafter as Frnbassy Moscow can make arrange ents,, a
note offering the shipment substantially as outlined in paragraph 1 above
will be presented at the Foreign Office in Moscow. this note would be
released by the President on Friday or Saturday, thus permitting us to take
action on this project this week.
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one? a_t ns
It is recommended that you present this progress report to the
Psychological Strategy Board at its luncheon on Wednesday,, July 11,, and
recommend approval of the project substantially as outlined above.
'oUowing approval of the project as outlined above,, a text of the
note to be delivered by Embassy Moscow and a text of the press statement
to be issued by the President will be prepared*
bpc
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