ON THE RECORD —
Balance of power or one-power rule?
By Dorothy Thompson
…
Lawrence: Okinawa loss rapped again
Hanson Baldwin reveals Marines went back without landing
By David Lawrence
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World bank would serve as guarantor
In most cases will back up loans made by private banks
By James Marlow, Associated Press writer
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U.S. State Department (July 23, 1945)
Log of the President’s Trip to the Berlin Conference
Monday, July 23:
Mail arrived from Washington during the forenoon; the President signed this mail shortly after it was delivered to him.
1000: General Parks called on the President and presented him the flag that had been raised at Berlin last Friday.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace H. Graham, Medical Corps, USA (attached to the 24th Evacuation Hospital, Bremen) spent the day visiting with the President and members of his mess.
1100: Secretary Stimson called on the President.
1500: Mail was dispatched to Washington.
At 1640 the President left the Little White House for Cecilienhof where he and his party arrived at 1650.
At 1710 the seventh meeting of the conference was called to order. The meeting adjourned at 1900 at which time the President and his party left to return to the Little White House.
At 2020 the President, Secretary Byrnes, and Admiral Leahy left the Little White House by foot for the Prime Minister’s residence where they attended a State Dinner given by Prime Minister Churchill in honor of the President and Generalissimo Stalin. Those present included: The President, Secretary Byrnes, Admiral Leahy, General Marshall, Admiral King, General Arnold, Mr. Bohlen, Generalissimo Stalin, Mr. Molotov, Army General A. I. Antonov, Marshal of the Soviet Union G. K. Zhukov, Marshal of Aviation F. Ya. Fodalev [Falaleyevf], Admiral of the Fleet N. G. Kousnetsov, Prime Minister Churchill, the Right Honorable C. R. Attlee, Mr. Eden, Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham, Field Marshal Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, Sir Edward Bridges, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Charles Portal, Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, Commander C. R. Thompson, and Major A. Birse. Music for the occasion was furnished by a stringed orchestra from a Royal Air Force band. The menu included: Cold clear soup, hot turtle soup, fried sole, roast chicken, boiled new potatoes, peas, cold ham, lettuce salad, fruit salad, ice cream, and Scotch woodcock.
The President, Secretary Byrnes, and Admiral Leahy returned to the Little White House at 2330.
Salzburger Nachrichten (July 24, 1945)
Briten besetzen die Steiermark
Österreichs Zukunft liegt in den Händen der Österreicher
…
L’Aube (July 24, 1945)
Le procès Pétain a commencé hier
M. Paul Reynaud, premier témoin, a entamé sa déposition
…
L’Allemagne paiera aux « Trois Grands » 20 milliards de dollars de réparations…
…mais la part de la France n’est pas déterminée
…
U.S. State Department (July 24, 1945)
890d.00/7-2445
Memorandum by the Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs
Berlin Conference, July 24, 1945
Top secret
Memorandum
Subject: DISCUSSION IN BIG THREE MEETING ON JULY 23, 1945, REGARDING SYRIA AND LEBANON
When this item on the agenda was reached, STALIN stated that he would circulate a draft of a proposed brief statement to which he hoped the Conference could agree on this subject (a copy of the draft is attached).
CHURCHILL: At present the burden of maintaining order in Syria and Lebanon has fallen on our shoulders. We have no intention or desire to gain advantages there except those enjoyed by other countries. When we entered this area in 1941 to throw out the Germans and Vichy French, we and the Free French both agreed to recognize the independence of Lebanon and Syria. In consideration of the very long historical connection of France in these countries, we agreed not to object to France having a continued favored position there. We have told General de Gaulle that when he makes a mutually satisfactory treaty with these two countries, we shall withdraw our troops. If we withdraw now, it would lead to a massacre of the French civilians and small number of French troops there. The outbreak would affect security in Palestine and Iraq and possibly also in Egypt. There could not be a worse moment than the present for such a disturbance. The area constitutes an important line of communications to the Far Eastern war. The recent troubles started when the French sent 500 reinforcements to the area. This was a ridiculous action. What could 500 men do? But the entire Arab world was immediately convulsed with excitement. Lately General de Gaulle has agreed to hand over to Syria and Lebanon the Troupes Spéciales. I trust that agreement will be reached on independence and some recognition given to the French cultural and commercial position in the area. We repeat, we have no desires except to withdraw from a thankless task, assumed on behalf of the Allies. Since the matter rests between us and the French, we do not welcome the proposal for a conference in which the United States and the USSR would enter. The whole burden has been borne by us with no help (after prompting by Mr. Eden, Mr. Churchill added: “except for the diplomatic approval and support of the United States”). If the United States cares to take our place, that would offer a new consideration.
TRUMAN: No, thank you. When the trouble started, I had some correspondence with the Prime Minister on the subject. Mr. Churchill wrote to me, saying that another war was about to commence in the Near East and he had the troops to stop it. I said: “Please do so by all means. We do not want a war near the Suez route to the Far East.”
We are in slight disagreement with the Prime Minister, however, in one regard. We are in favor of equal treatment for everybody in the area, with no one having a privileged position.
STALIN: Including France?
TRUMAN: Yes.
STALIN: May I infer that my colleagues do not recognize any special privileges for France in the area?
TRUMAN: I certainly do not.
CHURCHILL: We would like to see France have a privileged position there. We agreed to this when we were weak. We cannot change now. This agreement, however, was only as far as the United Kingdom is concerned. We would not make any serious effort to help France obtain privileges. If they do so, we shall smile benignly.
STALIN: From whom can France get these privileges?
CHURCHILL: From Syria and Lebanon.
STALIN: Only Syria and Lebanon?
CHURCHILL: Only. The French have large interests there. They even have a tune: “Pars [Partant?] pour la Syrie.” (Laughter) Their interests go back to the Crusades.
TRUMAN: The United States favors equal rights for everyone.
CHURCHILL: Will you prevent Syria from giving privileges to France?
TRUMAN: No, but we are certain that the Syrians will not give France privileges.
STALIN: The Syrians are reluctant to do so. (Laughter). I welcome the full explanation given to us on this subject by Mr. Churchill and am happy to withdraw my paper.
(This item on the agenda was considered as having been completed with the foregoing discussion).
GEORGE V. ALLEN