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{
    "localId": "205714613",
    "label": "Memorandum from Secretary of State George Marshall to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachment",
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    "id": "205714613",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Memorandum from Secretary of State George Marshall to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachment",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/205714613",
    "collections": [
        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
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    "subjects": [
        "Berlin Blockade, 1948-1949"
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            "logicalDate": "1948-07-30",
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    "ocrText": "REGTRICTEE\n-ASSIFIED\nMemorandum for the Secretary\nAuthorily E.O. 10501\nJuly 29, 1948\nU.S. PUBLIC OPINION ON THE BERLIN SITUATION\nThe following are the principal elements in public comment\nwhich continues to be extremely heavy, particularly in the\ndaily press from all parts of the country.\n1. The overwhelming majority of press and radio commentators\nremain united in support of the official U.S. position--that\nwe\nshall not be \"coerced\" out of Berlin.\n2. At the same time, there is very strong sentiment to the ef-\nfect that this Government should explore every possibility of a\nnegotiated solution, providing that such a solution does not\nviolate our principles and our national interests.\n3. The position taken by a small number of influential papers\nindicates that these sources do not believe our position in\nBerlin is worth risking a war, implying support for evacuation\nif the alternative is the use of force (e.g., Omaha World-Her-\nald, Detroit News).\n4. On balance, however, this attitude is heavily outweighed by\nthe belief that surrender in Berlin would only result in future\naggression elsewhere.\n5. In contrast to the situation prevailing a few weeks a.go,\nthere now appears to be substantial support for another Four\nPower conference to discuss the whole German question--provi\ning the Berlin blockade is lifted. While considerable doubt\nexists as to whether such a conference could accomplish any-\nthing, nevertheless, this step is favored by many \"if only for\nthe record\", and by some on the \"off-chance\" that an acceptable\nsettlement could be reached.\n6. Most of this comment stresses that the conference cannot\nsucceed unless Russia is prepared to modify her previous demands.\nFor example, there is strong opposition to permitting Russia a\nvoice in the Ruhr control and to the establishment of a \"cen-\ntralized government which would permit Germany to become a\nSoviet satellite. However, Lippmann continues to press for the\nnegotiation of a general settlement to effect the withdrawal of\nall troops--a course also urged by James P. Warburg and David\nLawrence.\n7. While the possibility of UN action has received little dis-\ncussion during the past week, it is evident from previous dis-\ncussion that such a step would be supported by most observers\nif direct negotiations fail to break the deadlock.\nARCHIVES SERVICE"
}