Allies in need of anti-Nazis
Group in Germany to play big role in political reeducation of Reich
By Max Werner
…
Lawrence: Russians seen in peace role
Molotov’s talk with Jap envoy may foreshadow surrender move
By David Lawrence
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*Mussolini says he erred in 1922, let king remain
Duce believed Fascists were welcome in Rome but after that began complex diarchy
…
U.S. State Department (July 18, 1945)
761.94/7-2145: Telegram
The Japanese Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs
Moscow, July 18, 1945 — 11:28 p.m.
[Translation]
very secret
very urgent
1416
Re your telegram No. 913-2
The so-called unconditional surrender or peace obtained by some-thing close to unconditional surrender referred to in my telegram No. 1392 and others which I sent from time to time, omits the problem of protecting the fundamental character of our nation. It goes without saying that even in conducting negotiations with the Soviets on the subject of your telegram, the absolute desire on the part of 70 million citizens as regards our form of government should be forcefully stressed. Therefore I have already added a statement in the latter portion of my telegram No. 1143, believing that there should be no fear of a misunderstanding arising therefrom on this matter; I mention this only in order to make sure.
If the matter of the preservation of our form of government were already taken care of, whether you call it unconditional surrender or whether you call it something close to this condition, in the final analysis it is a matter of degree. As for us I think it should not be made an absolute condition. Concerning the early portion of the telegram, I would like to express my humble opinion at another time after giving the matter full consideration.
Log of the President’s Trip to the Berlin Conference
Wednesday, July 18:
Sergeant Truman had breakfast with the President this morning.
The President conferred with the Secretary of State and a number of his advisers during the forenoon.
At 1315 the President, accompanied by Mr. Ross, General Vaughan, and Captain Vardaman, left the Little White House by foot for the Prime Minister’s quarters. There the President lunched privately with the Prime Minister while Mr. Ross, General Vaughan, and Captain Vardaman had lunch with Junior Commander Mary Churchill and some, other members of the Prime Minister’s personal staff.
At 1450 the President, together with the Prime Minister and Miss Churchill, left the Prime Minister’s residence and walked down the street to Mr. Eden’s quarters where they met Mr. Eden and Secretary Byrnes. The party then returned to the Prime Minister’s house. The President’s party assembled at the Prime Minister’s and left with him for Generalissimo Stalin’s quarters so that the President could return Marshal Stalin’s earlier call.
At 1500 a pouch with mail for the White House was dispatched to Washington.
1504: The President and his party arrived at the Generalissimo’s quarters. The President was met as he alighted from his car by Mr. Molotov who escorted him and his party inside where Mr. Stalin awaited. Although most of our party had just left the luncheon table, we were ushered to a large dining table where a buffet lunch was served us. After lunch with attending toasts, the President talked briefly with the Generalissimo. Then they posed for still and motion pictures. The President and party left the Generalissimo’s house at 1600 for Cecilienhof. We arrived at the Palace at 1608.
At 1615 the second meeting of the Berlin Conference was convened. The meeting adjourned at 1800, and the President and his party left immediately to return to the Little White House.
1930: Assistant Secretary Clayton, Assistant Secretary Dunn, and Mr. Donald Russell were dinner guests of the President. The U.S. Headquarters, Berlin District, Army Band, under the direction of Warrant Officer Frank J. Rosato, played during the dinner hour…
The Syonan Shimbun (July 19, 1945)
Enemy admits 291 B-29s lost in recent raids on Nippon homeland
Foe air strength being steadily destroyed
…
Salzburger Nachrichten (July 19, 1945)
Truman führt den Vorsitz
BERLIN, 18. Juli (PW) – Am Dienstagnachmittag begann in Potsdam die Dreimächte-Konferenz. Folgendes amtliche Kommuniqué wurde ausgegeben:
Die Potsdamer Konferenz der Regierungschefs von Großbritannien, den Vereinigten Staaten und der Sowjetunion nahm heute um 17 Uhr ihren Anfang. Der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten wurde von den beiden anderen Regierungschefs aufgefordert, den Vorsitz bei den Zusammenkünften der Konferenz zu übernehmen. Es fand ein vorläufiger Meinungsaustausch darüber statt, welche Fragen von den drei Regierungschefs entschieden werden sollen. Ferner wurde beschlossen, dass die drei Außenminister regelmäßig zusammentreffen sollen, um die vorbereitende Tätigkeit der Konferenz durchzuführen.
Churchill lud Präsident Truman zu einem Frühstück in die Villa am See den Wohnsitz des Ministerpräsidenten, ein. In einer der benachbarten Villen empfing der britische Außenminister Anthony Eden den amerikanischen Außenminister James Byrnes als Gast.
L’Aube (July 19, 1945)
Quinze hommes autour d‘une table ronde gardent le secret de leurs entretiens
…et 180 journalistes estiment s’être déplacés pour rien
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L’offensive aéronavale contre le Japon se développe –
« Débarquement en trois phases dès le mois prochain »
…annonce l’amiral Barbey
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Le procès des grands chefs nazis s’ouvrira en septembre, annonce Londres qui précise que Goering, Hess et Ribbentrop seront jugés.
U.S. State Department (July 19, 1945)
871.6363/7-1945: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union to the Acting Secretary of State
Moscow, July 19, 1945 — midnight
Secret
2634
Letter went forward to Foreign Office in conformity with Department’s 1621, July 16, warning that exclusive Soviet Rumanian trade pact and monopolistic agreements on oil would cause serious concern in United States Government and might compel United States Government to reconsider present favorable oil policy toward USSR. (To Department, repeated Bucharest 94, London 372). Harriman has been informed.
KENNAN
Meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 10 a.m.
JCS 198th Meeting
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Admiral Leahy | Brigadier General Lincoln | |
| General of the Army Marshall | Brigadier General Esposito | |
| Fleet Admiral King | Captain McDill | |
| General of the Army Arnold | Captain Stroop | |
| General Somervell | Captain Oster | |
| Lieutenant General Hull. | Colonel Peck | |
| Vice Admiral Cooke | Colonel Dean | |
| Rear Admiral Flanigan | Colonel Donnelly | |
| Major General Gross | Colonel Stone | |
| Major General Deane | Colonel Riggs | |
| Major General Norstad | Colonel Cary | |
| Brigadier General Cabell | Lieutenant Colonel Woodward | |
| Brigadier General Jamison | ||
| Secretariat | ||
| Brigadier General McFarland | Captain Moore |
JCS Minutes
Potsdam, July 19, 1945, 10 a.m.
[Extract]
Top secret
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Information for the Russians Concerning the Japanese War (CCS 884, 884/1 and 884/2)
GENERAL HULL said that it was the desire of the British that information be given to the Russians on a combined basis. This had not been the policy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Combined Intelligence Committee had prepared an intelligence report on the Japanese situation which had been presented to the Combined Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Intelligence Committee had prepared a report which might be given to the Russians. He said that he did not believe that the British would agree to giving the Russians the Combined Intelligence Committee report, but he thought the Joint Chiefs of Staff would be willing to give the report of the Joint Intelligence Committee to the Russians.
GENERAL MARSHALL said that he thought the British were more concerned in regard to intelligence that might be given the Russians on special projects than in regard to operational intelligence.
GENERAL DEANE said that he believed that the British had two motives in presenting their views: first, to share in the operational running of the war, and second, to exchange information with the Russians on a quid pro quo basis.
He said that he believed that we should give the Russians operational intelligence without reference to the British. He agreed to a certain extent in the exchange of intelligence with the Russians on a quid pro quo basis, but it had been the policy of the Military Mission to Moscow to go further than that and to provide the Russians with information they needed to win the war. He felt that Russian security was entirely adequate and that they would not disclose information furnished them. It was his view that the only relations that the British would have with the Russians in connection with the war in the Far East was in the exchange of intelligence, whereas our interest was operational and much greater than that of the British.
ADMIRAL KING said that he had noted that the British paper on the subject (CCS 884/2) was written before yesterday’s meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff and he felt that their motive at that time was to take an equal part with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the operational strategy of the war against Japan. He thought there should be a delimitation between operational intelligence and general intelligence; that we should give the Russians directly such operational intelligence as we considered necessary and that general intelligence should be furnished the Russians on a common basis which would mean a continuation of the present arrangement.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff: Agreed to discuss this subject with the British Chiefs of Staff.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second meeting of the Foreign Ministers, 11 a.m.
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | United Kingdom | Soviet Union |
| Secretary Byrnes | Foreign Secretary Eden | Foreign Commissar Molotov |
| Mr. Dunn | Sir Alexander Cadogan | Mr. Vyshinsky |
| Mr. Harriman | Sir William Strang | Mr. Gromyko |
| Mr. Cohen | Sir Archibald Clark Kerr | Mr. Gusev |
| Mr. Page | Mr. Novikov | |
| Mr. Thompson |
Thompson Minutes
Potsdam, July 19, 1945, 11 a.m.
Top secret
MR. EDEN in the Chair stated his understanding that the Agenda for today included:
- German political questions, on which there was a revised draft;
- Poland; and
- German Economic Problems.
MR. EDEN stated that before consideration of the agenda, he understood that Mr. Byrnes had a point to make on the paper concerning the Council of Foreign Ministers.
MR. MOLOTOV at this point asked whether he could add to the agenda.
Reconsideration of Paper on Council of Foreign Ministers
MR. BYRNES stated that he wished to move reconsideration of the language of the paper on the Council of Foreign Ministers. He referred to the members charged with duties under section 3 and specifically to the language restricting membership to governments signatory to the terms of surrender. He pointed out that some governments were at war but were not signatory to the armistice terms and asked that the drafting committee on this subject be instructed to reconcile points of view on this phase of the matter.
MR. MOLOTOV inquired whether paragraph 3 was referred to and stated that it was not quite clear to him what question was involved.
MR. BYRNES pointed out that France, for example, was at war with Italy but was not signatory to the armistice terms and asked whether she would be permitted to participate in discussions regarding Italy.
MR. MOLOTOV replied that he believed that she would.
MR. BYRNES stated that under the present language of this paper he did not believe that a state in such a situation could participate.
MR. MOLOTOV asked whether the change would provide only for Italy.
MR. BYRNES replied that if Russia, for example, were at war with a country but was not a signatory to the armistice terms, Russia should not be excluded.
MR. MOLOTOV then asked specifically whether France should take part in the formulation of the peace treaty with Rumania.
MR. BYRNES stated his belief that if France were not at war with any country she would be present during any discussions but would not necessarily participate in the decisions.
MR. MOLOTOV then moved that Mr. Byrnes’ motion be accepted.
MR. EDEN stated general agreement and asked Mr. Molotov what subjects he wished to add to the agenda.
German Fleet and Merchant Marine
MR. MOLOTOV stated that he had a draft on the German fleet and merchant marine which he wished his colleagues to study. He stated that the draft would be ready in 10-15 minutes.
Consideration of the Agenda
MR. EDEN then brought the meeting back to the agenda and stated that the drafting committee on German political questions had a revised draft ready for presentation. He asked Mr. [Sir William] Strang to present it.
MR. STRANG explained in some detail various changes made by the drafting committee in the text of this paper. (See Attachment 1)
In paragraph 1 [2] (i) the word “demilitarization” was added after the word “disarmament” in order to bring this section in line with the declaration issued in Berlin on June 5. Subparagraph (a) immediately after subparagraph (i) was altered to accord with EAC recommendations. Subparagraph (b) was altered by the deletion of the word “seize” and the substitution of the phrase “held at the disposal of the Allies”, since most seizures had already been made.
MR. MOLOTOV then thanked the drafting committee for its work, and was followed by MR. EDEN and MR. BYRNES.
MR. BYRNES moved that the text be approved and this was agreed to.
Poland
MR. EDEN stated that the next item on the agenda was Poland. He added that the Prime Minister during the meeting on July 18 had promised to produce the text of a possible proposal.
MR. EDEN stated gratitude to the Generalissimo for his understanding of British difficulties even though their purposes were the same.
The British Delegation had produced the text of a draft proposal and had attempted a Russian translation, which was only in manuscript form. This proposal was delivered to the delegates and there was an interim period for consideration of it during which MR. MOLOTOV distributed copies of the Russian proposal.
After a brief period MR. EDEN again called the meeting to order.
MR. MOLOTOV stated that the Russian Delegation had no objection to the first paragraph of the proposal. There was, however, some question about paragraph 2. The title [paragraph?] began “The British and U.S. Governments express their willingness.” This was not considered urgent enough and some expression of the need for immediacy was needed.
MR. EDEN stated that he wished to say that a telegram had come giving information on this subject. The British have done more than the Prime Minister was able to indicate during the July 18 session of the Heads of Governments. The British Government had taken under control the whole machinery of the former Polish Government, which was being liquidated rapidly. A Treasury committee has assumed full control of all Polish finances. All Polish ministries have been closed and diplomatic privileges have been withdrawn. All properties except the Polish Embassy have been taken by the British Government and all work not connected with the liquidation of the former Polish Government has been stopped. All recruiting for Polish armed forces has been stopped and the War Office is now supervising the activities of the Polish General Staff. Polish ships are under charter to the United Kingdom, which desires to discuss this question with the Warsaw government. Much has been done and is being done.
MR. MOLOTOV then pointed out that since there is no representative of Poland here, it is impossible for the Soviet Delegation to speak for them. The principal question is to prevent the London Government from transferring assets and properties to private persons.
MR. EDEN stated that he was able to give absolute assurances on this point.
MR. MOLOTOV then pointed out that the law governing these matters was recent and that many transfers might have taken place in the past.
MR. EDEN replied that British action had been taken from the moment that recognition was accorded to the Warsaw government. The British Government is now awaiting the arrival of a representative of the Polish Provisional Government in London in order that immediate discussions can begin.
MR. MOLOTOV again raised the question of immediacy.
MR. EDEN replied that discussions could not be begun with persons who are absent.
MR. MOLOTOV then stated that he only wanted a statement stressing immediacy.
MR. EDEN expressed the belief that such statement could be made and MR. BYRNES agreed.
MR. BYRNES then mentioned the fact that an attempt had been made to transfer the Polish Embassy property in Washington but that this had been stopped and the Embassy had been vacated and was now at the disposal of the Warsaw Government.
MR. MOLOTOV then raised the matter of stocks, assets, and property and asked whether the sentence from the Russian proposal forbidding such transfers could be used.
MR. EDEN replied that he would consider a phrase noting that steps had been taken.
MR. MOLOTOV then questioned practice in other countries, specifically mentioning Norway.
MR. EDEN then agreed that a drafting committee might be appointed in order to try to find words which would meet Mr. Molotov’s wishes and asked whether there were any other points in the draft to which the Soviet Delegation took exception.
MR. MOLOTOV inquired concerning the debts of the London Polish Government and asked for an indication of the totals.
MR. BYRNES replied that he was unable to give a definite answer on this point and pointed out that the statement in paragraph 2 concerning discussions which would take place on these matters apparently met Mr. Molotov’s point.
MR. EDEN noted that the draft paper only suggests that discussions embrace this question and does not ask the Polish Provisional Government to accept a liability in advance.
MR. BYRNES suggested that the matter be referred to a committee to reconcile differences in language, and MR. MOLOTOV agreed.
MR. EDEN felt that the meeting should hear more about remaining points first.
MR. MOLOTOV then stated that the last words in paragraph 3 regarding the assurance of a livelihood carried an implication which no country could guarantee.
MR. EDEN suggested the words “personal freedom and security.”
MR. MOLOTOV suggested the inclusion of the words “without discrimination.”
MR. MOLOTOV then asked whether the Crimea text could not be used in the last paragraph and suggested that this point and other differences be left to the drafting committee.
MR. BYRNES and MR. EDEN agreed.
MR. BYRNES appointed Mr. Harriman and Mr. Bohlen to serve on the drafting committee.
MR. EDEN appointed Ambassador Clark Kerr and Mr. Allen.
MR. MOLOTOV appointed Mr. Vyshinski and Mr. Golunski.
MR. EDEN asked whether it was possible that a draft would be ready for the meeting this afternoon.
MR. MOLOTOV stated that he would prefer to have the question discussed on July 20 since the matter should not be hurried.
MR. BYRNES then suggested that an effort be made to get a draft today, but if this was not possible it be held over until tomorrow.
MR. MOLOTOV agreed.
German Economic Problems
MR. EDEN stated that the next item on the agenda was the consideration of German economic problems but that he understood that the drafting committee had no report ready since it had not been possible to meet yesterday. Therefore, neither this meeting nor the meeting of the Heads of States could consider this question today.
MR. EDEN then suggested consideration of an agenda for the meeting of the Heads of States.
MR. MOLOTOV asked that other matters be discussed first. These included the disposition of the German fleet and merchant marine, and Spain. A Russian proposal on Spain was distributed at this point. (See attachment 2).
MR. EDEN inquired concerning the disposition of these two matters.
MR. BYRNES stated that he saw no reason why these two subjects should not be put on the agenda for discussion today by the Heads of States.
MR. EDEN stated that it was impossible for him to discuss the German fleet without consultation with naval authorities, who were not now present.
MR. BYRNES reiterated his belief that both questions should be discussed by the Heads of States. He also suggested that the President’s paper on the implementation of the Yalta agreement come up for consideration this afternoon.
MR. EDEN remarked that the President’s paper dealt only with the Balkans and asked for permission to add two items on the British agenda. These are: one paper on Yugoslavia and one on Rumania.
MR. BYRNES agreed that these questions should be added and if not reached on the agenda today should go over until tomorrow.
MR. MOLOTOV stated that he had no objection.
Agenda for Meeting of Heads of States
MR. EDEN then recapitulated the items agreed upon for discussion by the Heads of States on the afternoon of July 19. These were:
- Agreed text on political control of Germany;
- Poland;
- The German fleet and merchant marine;
- Spain;
- Implementation of the Yalta Declaration;
- Yugoslavia;
- Rumania.
MR. MOLOTOV asked whether there were any drafts available on items 6 and 7.
MR. EDEN promised them by this afternoon.
MR. EDEN, after asking whether there was anything else to come before the meeting, then declared the meeting adjourned.