National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM) #58

SEGRET 5. The Secretary of State and the Director of Central Intelligence should submit joint recommendations as to the timing and nature of the prepara- tions to be taken to create a capability for inciting progressively increasing instability in East Germany and Eastern Europe, at such time after October 15 as it may be ordered. Recommendations should also be submitted as to the timing and nature of the steps to be taken to bring this capability to the atten- tion of the Soviets before they make their critical decisions about Berlin. 6. The Secretary of State and the Director of USIA should submit recom- mendations as to the timing and nature of the steps to be taken to place our case regarding Berlin and Germany before the American public and the world and to gain support for the above preparations, as may be necessary. 7. The Secretary of State should submit recommendations concerning the timing and nature of our negotiating positions on Berlin and Germany prior to the signing of a peace treaty, and concerning the posture which the allied powers should adopt toward the appearance of East German personnel along the access routes following a peace treaty. These recommendations need not be submitted by the NSC meeting of July 13, but the Secretary may wish to discuss possible alternatives in a preliminary way at that meeting in order to keep the political framework of the other studies before the Council. Recommendations on this subject will be discussed more fully at a later NSC meeting. 8. The Secretary of State is given general responsibility for coordinating the various studies covered in this directive and for developing an integrated timetable intended to achieve (1) maximum deterrent effect with respect to the Soviets, and (ii) the agreement and maximum cooperation of our Allies. The instrument for this purpose will be the Interdepartmental Group on Berlin Contingency Planning, hereby redesignated as the Interdepartmental Coordinating Group on Germany and Berlin. This Group will be under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State or such representative as he may designate in his stead. mp. B. McGeorge Bundy -3- SECRET