National Committeeree Europe, Inc
FiriM M'ENUi Ml' VOKK I, N. V. fl'MONJMMM1
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STRICTLY PRIVATE
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Dear Alleni
I go along heartily with the idea you expressed the other day on the phone that the KCPE position ought to besoon at high level. The need for this is naturalearalf of rapid growth; and the changes in personnel which you mentioned also make it appropriate.
One basic item in the situation much emphasized to me by FW at the outset of our venture was an understanding between him and State that all "policy guidance" from State would reach NCFE only throughoffice. This restriction appears in the fundamental memorandum agreed to by you and Frank Altschul and me9 r in the following terme:
"Policy Guidance. On all activities directly or in-directly affectingovernmental or State Department policy), official policy guidance will be given or confirmed through (FT/'s office) and (FW's office) shall be the sole channel for the purpose."
The ensuing paragraph reads as follows:
"Liaison. Nothing in this outline shall be interpreted to discourage the officers or staff members of NCFE from establishing or maintaining such normal relationships as any private citizens or organizations might have with any government official or agency."
Despite the broad exception of the second paragraph FW has exhibited always a strong dislike of direct contacts with State personnel, by me in particular. This was especially marked fchenr mentioned to him one day last Julyas lunching with Charles Yost and Fred Reinhardt, on the basis of old friendship but withiew also to some informal talk about the Council for Free Czechoslovakia. The general result has been for me to keep away from State and my old friends there.
Allen W. Dulles, Esquire
Sullivan and Cromwell b8 Wall Street
New(or Release
Allen W. Dulles, Esquire - 2.
2%, 0
Direct working relations with State have developedonsiderable scale on the technical side ofPeter Meroeading part. o not think it is always qui'..e clear for whom Peter is speaking at any given moment, but up to now, so far asan make out, things are working out in practice pretty well. Bob Lang spoke to me in that encouragingew days ago.
On the programming side of radio we have received some scattered "directives" from FW's staff, but the directives,or some of them, don't make too much sense, and here the situation cannot be said to be satisfactory at all. Nor has coordination between us and the Voice been worked out as it should behink can be.
Relations with the exiles and the national councils constituteost important area in which close working contact with Washington is essential. Experience so far has been anything but satisfactory. Barnes and Offis misled us badly regarding'efforts to formugoslav national committee. Apparently they gave us (as coming presumably from State) what was mainly their own line. ffhen the line, about which Free Dolbeare hod all along had grave misgivings, casic to the full attention of State, it was rejected and we were left holding the bag uncomfortably.
Tfe have now before us as an increasingly insistent problem the basic pattern of our relations with the exile groups. The concept of national councils we inherited, and we have certainly givenery fair trial. The score to date isn't good. The Rumanian National Council is nor; practically dissolved. That leaves Bulgarian, Czechoslovai: and Hungarian Councils. The firstne-man show. Only the Hungarian is anywhere near satisfactory, olishugoslav national council is nowhere in sight.
Both Adolf Berlencline to believe that some other system should be tried. In any case the problem must be carefully re-examined. To do thishink that Berle, Fred Dolbeare and I, and certainly you, if you can find time, should talk it over at length withinhardt and others at State and Bob Kelloy. Almost certainly WCFR would be ready to carry on with any program formulated following all-around consultation, but it seems to no just nonsense for anyone to attenpt toolicy on exile relationships without extended consultation with us.
Allen W. Dulles,.
26,
As things nov/ stand, we haveecent "instruction" from Bob Kelley. opy is enclosed. How much this is Bob Kelley and how muchan't tell you. Theoretically it seems an exemplary document; but it is entirely theoretical in that it proceeds from an assumption, which has already been in good part disproved, that representative and effective committees can indeed be formed among the exiles. in anyubmit, that the knowledge and experience on exile matters which exist within NCFE itself should be drawn into consultation whenever a'basic outline of this kind needs to be prepared.
De'.Titt c. Poole
The whole HCFE operation has outgrown by far original conceptions and arrangements. As this marks the success of the original idea, everybody ought to be happy about it and join gladly in the readjustments consequently needed. m glad you are opening the way for the needed top-level Qiscussions.
Original document.
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