Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
2730166
label
Von Wiegand, Karl
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
2730166
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Von Wiegand, Karl
citationUrl
collections
Pre-Presidential Papers of Richard M. Nixon
General Correspondence
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
2730166
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
81a5c447a487212e
ocrText
is
TO: nixon
FEB 3 1960
I
Something I thought you would be
interested in seeing
RICHARD E BERLIN, President
The Hearst Deel Corporation
gite
Cairo, January 27, 1960
K.
Mr. Richard E. Berlin
wingood
FEB 3 1960
Hearst Corporation
959 8th Ave.
New York
Dear Dick,
C
My thanks to you for your letters of January 15th and 22nd.
Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy Dr. Ludwig Erhard
who is making his first visit to Egypt and has had a wonderful reception,
was going to call on me today with the German Ambassador. Unfortunately
he arrived from Bonn with influenza and had to go to bed immediately.
He is in the palace for State guests and Nasser has sent his own
O
personal physician. This of course, has disarranged the elaborate
programm made for him. He arrived with a staff of German economic
experts and 12 reporters whom President Nasser received before he
went to bed and upon whom he made an excellent impression.
This is the first genuine effort that West Germany is making
to participate in the economic development of Egypt and Syria.
P
Erhard is slated as the successor of Adenauer who being 84 is expected
will retire after the crises of this year in the East-West negotiations
are over.
Now that the financing of the second stage of the Asswan High
Dam is assured by Russia, Nasser's position as the outstanding
Statesman in the Middle East is firmly established. There was hope
among Americans and especially of the Embassy that America would
Y
participate in the second stage. Action in Washington was too slow,
too uncertain and too indecisive, Nasser lost hope and faith in the
sincerity of Washington, that is really why he gave it to Russia.
There was no concrete offer from the West on which he could rely and
determined to ensure the construction of the High Dam should anything
happen to him, Nasser's decision was in the circumstances a logical
and practical one.
There have been considerable friction over different matters
between Moscow and Cairo, details of which I cannot give here but are
interesting. Krushchev and Nasser had some sharp exchanges but Nasser
could not be budged on his neutralist standpoint and insisted that
the deal must remain on an economic and not on a political level.
There is now more or less an unwritten truce between Moscow Peking
and Cairo. Nasser remains toughly anti-communist but limits his
attacks to within the borders of the United Arab Republic. He is
disappointed that American does not always follow an American policy
in the Middle East, but in some matters supports colonial powers
which he thinks must inevitably loose in the end in Africa and in Asia.
RN
A confidential report has been received here privately that Red
China is working on the atomic bomb and it would not surprise here
if the next sensation before May 16th, may be an announcement
that China "has the atomic bomb". I am following up the matter both
here and in Europe to see what basis there is for this although it
has long been believed in Hongkong that China was working on
- 2 -
nuclear research. I thought some of these things might interest you.
What is the reaction at home to Eisenhower's going to Russia
a second time?
With my warmest and highest regards.
Sincerely yours,
C
/s/ Karl
O
P
Y
RESS.
Via Marconi--NO. 1156-akh-- CAIRO Jan. 28,1960.
HEARST NEWSPAPERS NEWYORK.
1156 -Attention White raw copy Berlin Sundayer Karl von Wiegand CAIRO
All Africa is rising morally against for freedom indpendence against
domination by European white mand and Colonial Powers as consequence of
four years rebellion nine million Moslems Algeria a which has developed
into present insurrection million French settlers agains mother country
France and President Degaulle stoppera stoppera White supremacy & over
second largest continent on globe now vanishing with
startling rapidity stop Just as Asia was lost to western political influ-
-ence and domination through blunders of policy by western powers so
Africa of 150 million negroes 45 million Arabs six million Asiatics five
million whites is going same way stoppera The more positive better di-
-directed influence of of Communist Sovrussia and of Red China with its
appeal quote we are colored race and closerbrothers to you unquote is
quietly almost unobtrusively but effectively moving in stoppera In the
statesmen seem unable to see the greatest and grimmest problem that has
ever faced statesmen in 2000 years of Christian Era stop They hold endless
conferences while Heads States scurry from capital to capital like shuttle
over the Loom of Time and History vainly trying weave pattern of fabric * J
Destiny in their minds without realizing that it has become obsolete
stopperaln Algeria the France of Degaulle is fighting against two front
dash the four rebellion of Moslems Berbers Kabyles which nearly half mil-
-lion French army unable downput and insurrection ultra French settlers
enjoying sympathy French Army on which DeGaulle has to rely dash who
resist DeGaulles planned concessions to rebels and possible plebicite stop
Outnumbered eight one settlers know such methods democracy would mean tha
Algeria would pass from under Frances rule to independent Arab
state stopThis would mean continous Arab Front f of 70 to 80 million strong
Arab Front from Morocco through Norafrica to Persian Gulf with Cairo as
main center and citadel for Arab cooperative unity stoppera No where are
developments in Algeria more closely watched or with greater interest than
in Cairo
seat of exile Provisional Rebel Algerian government stop
This government operates extraordinarily quietly but optimismis high that
no matter what DeGaulles and his government may do it will bring realization
independence Alg. na nearer stoppera stoppera
(2)
NO
1156
(2)
e situation Africa extremely unfavorable for European Colonial Powers
stopBritish Premier MacMillan received unfriendly welcome in numer places
on his tour personal inspection study sy British Kenya scene ruthless
British military supression Maumau uprising against European settlers now
demands independence stop There have been riots killing R in British Ugan-
-da stop To maintain quote White Supremacy unquote Southafrican Union
white minority governs undemocratically by not giving franchise to over-
-whelming number natives stop Natives Belgian Congo of 200 904757
sqmiles population around fifteen million richest European colony Africa
is enforcing demand independence also Spanish Mauretania stop Quote Free-
-dom Fever unquote has become contagious epidemic Africans stoppera
Some African congresses calling for for volunteer quote Liberation Bri-
gades unquote to reinforce SLM rebels stop DeGaulles power in Algeria
rests on French Army's loyalty obedience stop Armys sympathy largely with
and their quote Algeria must remain integral part France unquote stop
Usually French Army traditionally very patriotic but now crucified
stop According information here unliky army fire on settlers or on each
other stoppera Moscow Peking watching African developments closely stop
Africans know two worlds greatest nations Sovrussia Redchina are with them
stoppera Egypt northeast ERR strategic corner is steadiest calmest part
in turbulent continent stop Gamal unquote Abdul Nasser President UAR much praised
for his quote wise statemanship/in accept ing Russias bid second stage
High Dam while West was faltering hesitating stop Nassers decision declared
been practical logical inthat Dam has behind it big nation that will
assure its completion quote should anythiing happen to President whose
name will always stand in history as builder this great economic peace
monument unquote stoppera If America would follow an all American policy
it would be in position draw itself warmest friendship all Africa Middle
East stop Westgermany only other noncolonial power who can and is taking
steps to take advantage this great opportunity withim its limited financial
resources stop Minister Economy Erhard who came with twelve economic and
foreign office experts was warmly received stoppera end Bill no editorials
clippings moren month
Kar1 von Wiegand
Villa Akhnaton
P 0 Pyramids Cairo.
FEB 3 1960
Dile
TO:
Something I thought you would be
interested in seeing
RICHARD E. BERLIN, President
The Hearst Corporation
file (Von
Via Marconi-(N0.1154--M-Akh.-C A IR 0. Jan. 19,1960. Karl
PRESS.
HEARST NEWSPAPERS NEWYORK.
1154 Attention White raw copy Berlin --Karl von Wiegand - CAIRO- -
Soviet Unions Premier Nikiya Khrushchevs announcement Communist Russia
will demobilize one million 200 thousand of its three and half million
standing army is no reduction of Soviet military might or radue' quote
partial disarmament unquote as an example to America stoppera Its an ad-
-justment or readjustment of branches of Russias great quote War Machibe
unquote stopperakhrushchev is not lessening or reducing Russias offencive
or defencive striking power stoppen Khrushchev with approval Central
or Grand General Staff of Army Navy Airforce is shifting quote Center of
Gravity unquote of Russias striking power to quote Rocket and Missiles
Force unquote in war machine of which Soviet may indeed have largest
in world today stop Khrushchev wants at least American people think so
and shiver in fear stoppera Khrushchevs announcement at this time largely
for propagandistic effect on West as matter fact shows Russia is jump
ahead in trend this era from numericly superior manpower bombers to
intercontimental and medium rockets missiles stoppera Few days before
Khrushchevs announcement promiment Swede called on me during exchange
views he said Sweden had fourth large airforce world and that its Com-
-manderchief recently told him quote Sweden has placed its last orders
for bombers stop We are going over to rockets missiles fast as possible
unquote stop Sweden is not in Nato stop Like Switzerland its sel-
-reliant in national defense stoppera Khrushchevs approach to Summit
which he so long persistently pursued and after Eisenhowers long re-
-rejected until persuaded to accept by Communist Sovie t Premier
is indeed extraordinary in history diplomacy stoppera Its continuatio
of Marshal Bulganins policy of warnings threats intimidations barrage
of notes to many nations which at time - outturned as bluffing
and ended in his fall stoppera Khrushchevs unilateral reduction one
third Russias army his statement Soviets Rocket Missiles Force now power-
-ful enough obliterate any assailant of Soviet Union his dramatic
(2)-N0.1154--(2)
emphasis that Russia has in the works new weapons of quote incredible
power of destruction unquote tends to place Disarmament conference of ten
powers in March and Summit May 16 under what comes close to shadow of
Russian intimidation stop This new quote diplomacy unquote as approach
peace disarmamebt meetings together with Moscows warning of shooting
long range rochets midpacific is bad for lessening tension to put it
mildly stoppera Washingtons announcement Eisenhowers visit Russia again
June tenth came as suprise at this time in some quarters stop Was believed
been given to show Presidents confidence in promises made to him
by Khrushchev at A Camp Davis has not been shaken T otal disarmament
is an Utopia which no thoughtful man who knows anything of history
human nature or military affairs can take seriously unquote stop So writes
one 9 reatest military authorities Europe in letter stopQuote Eye do not
believe Unitedstates will prematurely upgive its Nuclear armanent the
only deterrent for which Russia any respect stop To follow Russias announce
demobiliization by America its allies would be to play Kremlins game
unquote stoppera end
Karl von Wiegand
Villa Akhnaton
P.O. Pyramids,
CAIRO.
XISSX
Via Marconi--N0-1155 --akh--CAIRO, RECEIVED
PRESS-
HEARST NEWSPAPERS NEWYORK.
JAN 28 1960
1155 Attention White raw copy Berlin Mondayer Karl von Wiega EAR.RO
Quote The Peoppes Republic World of China and its 650 million people will
not participate in in/Disarmament Conference
**panèzzx
that is not preceded by or does not its full recog-
-nition as a Great World Power stop pera Quote China will not adhere
to any resolution decision taken by Disarmament Conference in which
its Peoples Government has had no part in the deliberations stoppera
Quote The Peoples Republic of China will X not accept an invitation
to Ten Powers Dusarmament Conference scheduled meet in March unless
it includes such recognition unquote stoppera Whether sburce from
which above unofficial or seiofficial statement comes ** has authority
$9za behind it eye cannot verify because of confidential channel
through which it came stop Its interesting in view Secstate Herters
remarks stop Some observers link it with Khrushchevs visit Peking
immediately after Russian Premiers talk with Eisenhower at Camp Davis
stop Same source said stoppera Quote Moscow London Washington are well
informed on attitude Chinas attitude in being ignored as if did not
exist stop There will be no disarmament by any Asian nation without
China stop Two great world nations SovRussia India many smaller ones
stand behind Peoples Republic of China on this question unquote stoppera
& Red China operating silently behind its own quote bambo curtain
unquote and its allys Iron Curtain appears
to be R
rating high its influence power to make or doom disarmament conference
which in turn could have disastrous effect on Summit in May stoppera
Quote Sovrussia Redchina are like Siamese Twins and dont underestimate
that alliance in its working together unquote says in message tome
Dr. Martin Fischer accounted one of very best authorities on China on
basis his many years experience in China as German Minister Consul-
-general stop Speaks reads Chinese fluently stop Now head Asian Insti-
-tute Hamburg few men know past present Chinese character psychologically
politically economicly
(2)--NO.1155--(2)
as well as he stop Fischer and a British Consulgeneral were only two
Europeans whom eye ever knew belonged to some of Chinas to powerful
secret organizations kna called quote Tongs unquote stoppera Quote
Peking Moscow working very closely together unquote says Fischer stop
Box Quote Dont be misled by reports of friction between Redchina Russia
stop Of course theres friction there always is on lower levels between
Allies but between two such coldly calculating Communist regimes as
Russian Chinese that seldom affects magnitude of overall policy in
hands of few men who tolerate no criticism from within stop One best
examples even between two such democraticly governed great nations 22
is revealed in Memoirs Ex British Expremier Anthony Edens sharp critcisms
of Britains ally Unitedstates in Anglofrench Israel attack on Egypt 1956
stop Imperative necessity by Britain maintain alliance with America
overruled all other considerations and emotional bitterness stop That
applies even more to two Totalitarian Communist Russia China unquote
stoppera In his recent brochure quote The Economic Integration of
Peoples Republic China with Soviet Union unquote published by Institute
for Asia Fischer shows how close Red Chinas industrialization and
economy is interwoven with Russian stoppera Not Fischer but another
noted Chinese and Russian expert who speaks both languages equally well
stated to me that seven thousand Russian engineers technical experts
teachers managers planners were loaned to Redchina stop These he told me
were now down to about fourthousand stoppera end
Karl von Wiegand
Villa Akhnaton
Post Office Pyramids,
CAIRO.
COPY
January 19, 1960
Dear Dick:
I want to thank you through this note for send-
ing on to me the copy of Karl von Wiegand's dispatch
Berlin, Mr. Richard E.
from Cairo.
There is no question but that he has put his
finger squarely on the danger of the siren song of
"coexistence", namely, that definition of its meaning
is entirely different on the part of the Communists
on one hand and the free world on the other. In addi-
tion, I am against a concept such as this which en-
visions the separation of the world into two armed
camps until Communism can achieve world domination.
I believe that we must have a dynamic position which
competes, not just coexists.
copy C X -
X - Von Wiegand, Karl
copy X x 8
Folder
With every best wish,
Sincerely,
Richard Nixon
Mr. Richard E. Berlin
The Hearst Corporation
959 Eighth Avenue
New York 19, New York
REC:ss
file
Via Marconi-(B0.1150--akh-CAIRO. December
1959.
6.
PRESS
HEARST NEWSPAPERS NEWYORK.
1150 Attention White Sundayer Karl von Wiegand CAIRO At midnight
Thursday this week the great curtain began to uproll on global stage
JAN
5 heaped 1960 with greatest number major and secondary political military
economic social religious problems world ever seen at one time before
stoppera They are strung around globe from Washington to Tokyo necklace thence
Copy
again Washington stopThey are the
of
troubles and crises around worlds neck stop Their solution or nonsolu-
tion and methods used will determine future destiny nations hundreds
millions peoples stoppera Those uppiled problems mark grave errors of
victor governments and their leaders during and end World War Two their
shortsightedness lack vision bad judgment stop The blunders of Casa-
-blanca Cairo Teheran Yalta Potsdam quote personal contacts secret
talks unquote and consequences must be faced in 1960 stop
Fast and furious may be developments once unrolling begins stop-
-peraHeads governments America Russia Britain France doing utmost create
universal optimism stop According their words predictions we seemingly
are entering brighter era stopHopes illusions faith great doubts skepti-
cism marching side by side into Newyear stop Re Thoughtful realism has
relatively is small place in that parade stoppera Surface trends and
universal popular demands are for peace stop Big Four Eisenhower/Mac-
-Milland Krushchev DeGaulle in rivalry but together want go into his-
-tory as having given world that peace beginning with series of Easy:
four quote Summit unquote personal talks stop Teheran Yalta Potsdam
will ever be monuments in history of such conferences stoppera The
basis of coming "Summits" is mainly "hope" syoppera The realities of
Past and Present are gravely grim stop Communist Sovrussia with Red
China its ally in back of iron curtain will not renounce world revo-
-lution stoppera Krushchev will not renounce Communism stop Those two
facts alone mean atheistic Communism of which Russia is fath-
-er will remain an aggressive militant force and instrument of may
of national policy in hands masters in Kremlin and in Peking with
all implications stoppera Sitting in victors seat believing he has
trumps his hands what possible concessions can Khrushchev make that
would justify American government people and West in approving such
peace withKhrushchevs kind of quote coexistence unquote stop India
is experiencing that quote Coexistence unquote with Red China Russias
great ally stoppera Pope John 23 with clear vision and spiritual
moral courage in sombre language in world Christmas broadcast Summits with warned be
trainst such spiritual quote morat fictibus strength unquote in superior
armaments stop America Canada and nations western coalition have
(2)--NO.1169--(2)
the armed strength should Communists Russia force the calling on
it comma to defeat quote fictious unquote peace but Moscow sees signs
****
in Unitedstates Britain Westgermany encourage Russia to believe that
western armaments do not have that strong upstanding morale and
fighting spirit essential to animate to highest degree for freedom
those weapons stoppera Its still time to disabuse that thinking in
Kremlin stopperaNinteen sixty will be record Afroasian year stop It
will be knell of Colonialism stop Fever of independence however
premature in some states is sweeping former Dark Continent stop Impossi-
-ble improvise true democratic thought action and government over-
in people ninety percent illiterate stop Theres no substitute for
experience and tradition stop Wholesale admission African states
will change and darken complexion United Nations stop Already there
are predictions printed that colored races will dominate it stop-
-pera All big powers are courting those backward peoples in astonishing
manner stop When eye in Bonn recently government delegation of
newly independent prominent African state arrived enroute
thinly clad in robes shawls stop They shivered in cold stop German
foreign office gave each of the nine 300 Deutch Marks abdut 75 dollars
to buy overcoat stop Instead each bought gold wrist watch continued
shivering but were happy stop German officials then bought nine over-
coats gave them stop There was double happiness stoppera India of 400
million will have hard difficult year externally internally stop Reports
inspired Inage by some foreign embassies that India likely upbreak into
number independent Republics is discounted in official circles stop
Next to United States India is Communisms greatest target stoppera
Middle East especially United Arab Republic enters 1960 confident
Nasser determined in his stand against Communism and encouraged by warmer
winds blowing from Washington stop January ninth Nasser will lay
foundation stome 1 Nile High Dam Aswan greatest undertaking its kind
on earth stop Will take fifteen years complete stop All hotels Luxor Aswan
numer ous Nile passenger boats a other special accomodations already
overfilled stoppera Nasser beginning crack whip over his ministries in
chair
effect telling ministers department chiefs not wear out trousers seals in office
but get out into country meet people learn study help solve their problems
stoppera There 24 are signs that foreign in inisters and Chiefs western
big three so preoccupied with prima. piecemeal details German other problems
they forgetting real problem dash continuous red front from NorthVietna...
Pacific to Norway stoppera end Karl von Wiegand
UAR
Personal
AIR MAIL
60m
UAR
Hon. Richard Nixon,
Vice-President,
United States,
30.12
30
Washington,
D.C.
FORE
USA.
-
AIR MAIL
C 18
PAR AVION
E&B
COPY
September 10, 1959
Berlin, R chard E.
Dear Dick:
This is just a note to thank you for your letter of
August 19 passing on to me the information you had
received from Karl von Wiegand. You may be sure that
I found it most interesting and will certainly bear it in
mind.
I might add that one of my own conclusions was con-
firmed by the report in your letter. There is no doubt in
my mind that Khrushchev is and will remain a dedicated
Communist and will continue to pursue Communism's long
X- for REC
term objective of world domination. What we must do is
convince him that the Marxist view of a divided, exploitive
and decadent Free World is hopelessly outmoded and that
X- Khrushchev visit
the only rational course of action in a world of nuclear
X- Von Wiegand, Karl
folder
weapons is peaceful competition rather than his present
tactic of unilateral aggression.
Pat joins me in sending to you and Honey our very best
wishes,
Sincerely,
D.
Richard Nixon
Mr. Richard E. Berlin
President
The Hearst Corporation
959 Eighth Avenue
m
REC:js
New York 19, New York