America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

Major decisions of Big Three

German militarism to be destroyed

WASHINGTON (UP) – The major decisions reached by the Big Three at Yalta:

  • GERMANY
    Will be subjected to “new and even more powerful blows… to bring her to unconditional surrender.”

    Terms were agreed upon for occupation and control of Germany.

    German militarism and Nazism will be destroyed; the German General Staff will be “broken up for all time,” all of Germany’s capacity for waging war or producing war materials will be eliminated or controlled.

    The criminals will be punished. A commission will be established to study reparations.

  • UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
    An agreement was reached on voting procedure in the Council of the contemplated world security organization, a question left unsettled at Dumbarton Oaks.

    To prepare the charter for a world security organization along the lines of that contemplated at Dumbarton Oaks, a full United Nations conference will meet in San Francisco April 25.

  • LIBERATED EUROPE
    The three countries will jointly assist liberated European territories and former Nazi satellites to establish internal peace, carry out emergency relief measures, form interim governments and hold free elections of permanent governments “responsive to the will of the people.” The three countries will confer whenever the necessity arises in connection with these problems.

    The principles of the Atlantic Charter, including free determination of governments, are reaffirmed.

  • POLAND
    Russia gets roughly the eastern one-third of pre-war Poland, on the basis of a Polish border roughly following the old Curzon Line. In return, Poland will get “substantial” territory from Germany in the West.

    The so-called Lublin Government, now recognized by Russia, will be “reorganized on a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad.” The broadened government will be recognized by Britain and the United States.

  • YUGOSLAVIA
    The Big Three recommended acceptance of the compromise calling for creation of a regency and broadening of the Yugoslav Cabinet.

  • FOREIGN SECRETARIES
    The Big Three foreign secretaries will meet every three months, with the first session in London after the San Francisco conference.

  • FRANCE
    France was invited to participate in control and occupation of Germany, and in settling problems of Liberated Europe, she will be given a preview of the world security organization voting plan agreed upon at Yalta.