German Democratic Republic 715



    5. Above thinking explains statement which Secretary made to
press yesterday.3 (Chancellor should be given verbatim text.)
    6. As Secretary indicated, no question of GDR recognition in-
volved.
    7. We have not yet worked out next step to be taken if Soviet reply
entirely negative. However, we are aware of problem of Communist ex-
ploitation of US-GDR contacts and will try to evolve formulas and pro-
cedures best suited to maintaining Western position and preventing
exploitation adverse to our interests. Our reply might take form asking
Soviets to make any necessary arrangements with East German authori-
ties for return crew and plane and offer services personnel (probably
from Potsdam Mission) if necessary to facilitate return. This reply might
best be through military channels.
    8. At moment we still awaiting Soviet reply to Hodes before taking
further action.4
    You may wish inform your UK, French and, at appropriate point,
your Belgian colleagues of our position. We are of course bearing in
mind relationship to Belgian case.5
                                                             Dulles



    3For a transcript of Secretary Dulles' press conference on June 10, see
Department of
State Bulletin, June 30, 1958, pp. 1085-1090.
    4On June 12, General Zakharov replied that the helicopter case was solely
within the
competence of the German Democratic Republic. (SX 4558, transmitted in telegram
3696
from Bonn, June 12; Department of State, Central Files, 762B.5411/6-1258)
    vOn June 12, Bruce reported that he had seen the Chancellor who "was
not unduly
concerned over helicopter incident," but who hoped it could be settled
without direct con-
versations with the East Germans. (Telegram 3684 from Bonn; ibid.)





269. Diary Entry by the Ambassador to Germany (Bruce)

                                                 Bonn, June 13, 1958.

    Terrible snarl this morning over the famous helicopter. General
Hodes had gone ahead and instructed his Colonel McQuail at Potsdam
to ask the Soviets to act as intermediaries with the GDR for the return of
the craft and crew. If they refuse to do this he instructed McQuail to re-
quest the Soviets to place him in contact with an appropriate GDR offi-



Source: Department of State, Bruce Diaries: Lot 64 D 327. Secret.