Rickenbacker, Lausche and two chaplains headline We, the People at War tonight
All-musical program makes debut on WFMJ
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Werner: Japanese are far from beaten, capitulation is most unlikely
Says Army’s grip on Nippon complete; defeat not admitted
By Max Werner
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U.S. State Department (July 29, 1945)
Log of the President’s Trip to the Berlin Conference
Sunday, July 29:
1000: The President attended Protestant church services at the Coliseum. The services were conducted by Captain Northern.
1130: Mr. Molotov, accompanied by Mr. Galounsky (interpreter) called at the Little White House. The President, Secretary Byrnes, Mr. Molotov, Admiral Leahy, Mr. Bohlen and Mr. Galounsky conferred for more than an hour. Generalissimo Stalin was indisposed and could not attend.
The President presented autographed pictures to Colonel General S. N. Kruglov, Lieutenant General N. D. Gorlinski and Colonel M. M. Koretsky of the Red Army. These officers, members of the Soviet Advance party, had charge of arrangements at Babelsberg for the housing and security of the Big Three.…
Mail was dispatched to Washington this afternoon.
1630: Prime Minister Attlee, Mr. Bevin, and Sir Alexander Cadogan called at the Little White House. They conferred for some time with the President and Secretary Byrnes.
There was no meeting of the Big Three today. Generalissimo Stalin was still indisposed.
1930: Captain Ross was a dinner guest at the White House this evening. Dinner music was furnished by an Army band.
The Syonan Shimbun (July 30, 1945)
Invincible country like Nippon will never think of surrender
Army spokesman ridicules foe proclamation
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Bomber crashes into skyscraper
LISBON (Domei, July 28) – A twin-engined U.S. Army bomber crashed into the 102-storey Empire State Building in New York City during the fog this morning, causing the deaths of 19 persons, according to a New York dispatch. The plane exploded on hitting the skyscraper, set the tower of the building on fire.
Enemy makes abortive attempts to land troops on Puket Island
Speedily repulsed by Nippon garrison forces
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Okinawa: Guerrillas still active
A NIPPON ISLAND BASE (Domei, July 28) – Nippon forces are still carrying on guerrilla activities in the mountainous terrain of Kunigami, in the northern sector of Main Okinawa Island. Not only are they holding their own against overwhelming odds, but taking full advantage of the topography, they relentlessly continue to storm the enemy at every chance they get.
Salzburger Nachrichten (July 30, 1945)
Japan lehnt Ultimatum ab
Die japanische Regierung ist gewillt, den Krieg bis zum bitteren Ende auszesechten
NEW YORK, 29. Juli (Reuters) – Der Japanische Rundfunk gab bekannt, dass Ministerpräsident Suzuki das Ultimatum der Alliierten, zu kapitulieren, abgelehnt hat. Radio Tokio fügte hinzu, dass Suzuki in einem Interview die Entschlossenheit der japanischen Regierung den Krieg fortzusetzen zum Ausdruck brachte. Die kaiserlich-japanische Regierung wird die Aufforderung zur Übergabe durch die Alliierten nicht zur Kenntnis nehmen.
Zur Ablehnung des Ultimatums durch Japan schreibt der Reuter-Korrespondent William Hardcastle: „Die nach den letzten Angriffen von Superfestungen entstandenen ungeheuren Brände wüteten noch in drei japanischen Kriegsindustrie-Zentren, als die japanischen Minister von dem 77-jährigen Premier, Admiral Suzuki, in aller Eile in die Residenz berufen wurden, um das Ultimatum der Großmächte, „Übergabe oder Zerstörung“, zu besprechen. Nach einer dreistündigen Kabinettssitzung verkündete die japanische Nachrichtenagentur an die Alliierten eine herausfordernde Antwort, in der es heißt, dass „Japan den Krieg seiner feststehenden Politik entsprechend bis zum bitteren Ende ausfechten werde.“
Die gesamte Propaganda-Maschine der Vereinigten Nationen wird eingesetzt, um das japanische Volk von der Proklamation in Kenntnis zu setzen. Von Superfestungen werden Flugblätter mit der Aufforderung an die Japaner, ihre Regierung zu stürzen, kreuz und quer über das ganze japanische Mutterland abgeworfen. Der Sprecher der US-Regierung, Kapitän zur See, E. M. Zacharias, sprach zum japanischen Volk und sagte, dass Japan nur die Wahl zwischen der Annahme der Bedingungen oder völliger Vernichtung hätte. Die Führer Japans könnten nicht länger ihrem Volk die Wahrheit über die Niederlage Japans vorenthalten. Japan müsse den Weg der Vernunft wählen, da seine ganze Zukunft davon abhängt. Wenn das ‚japanische Volk durch seine selbstherrliche Militärclique gezwungen würde, den Weg des Verderbens zu wählen, dann werden Schweiß und Mühe von Jahrhunderten umsonst gewesen sein.
Die Pressestimmen prangern durchgehend die eigensinnige Haltung des japanischen Kabinetts an. Die New York Times schreibt unter anderem: „Die Bedingungen dieses letzten Friedensangebotes der alliierten Regierungen wurden zurückgewiesen und somit muss und wird der Krieg im Pazifik auf dem Schlachtfeld entschieden werden. Die Bedingungen der Alliierten waren so günstig und großzügig, wie man es angesichts der langen Liste brutaler und verräterischer Angriffe Japans gerade noch verantworten konnte.“ Die New York Herald Tribune äußert sich: „Es besteht kein Anlass, durch die glatte Zurückweisung des in Potsdam erlassenen Ultimatums beunruhigt oder überrascht zu sein. Japan wird immer noch durch seine Militärclique beherrscht. Wie lange sie den Japanern noch ihre Entscheidung aufzwingen kann, ist eine andere Frage. Der Nervenkrieg, nur möglich durch Amerikas Stärke und Japans Schwäche. kann es den japanischen Militaristen bald unmöglich machen, weiteren Widerstand zu verlangen.“
NEW YORK – Ein amerikanischer Bomber vom Typ B25, in einer tiefhängenden Wolkendecke fliegend, schlug gegen das 86. Stockwerk des höchsten Gebäudes der Welt, des Empire State Building. Er explodierte und verwandelte sechs Stockwerke des Gebäudes in ein Flammenmeer. Das Flugzeug rammte die Nordwand des 375 Meter hohen Turmes, schlug die Büros bis zur Südwand durch und zersplitterte auf dem Dach eines benachbarten Gebäudes. Der Aufzüge stürzten vom 80. Stockwerk des Gebäudes ab. Nach polizeilichen Schatzungen sind dem Unglück mindestens 19 Menschenleben zum Opfer gefallen.
L’Aube (July 30, 1945)
Un grand enthousiasme a accueilli, à Washington –
La ratification de la Charte
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Cédant a une suggestion d’Attlee –
Les « Trois Grands » ajourneront-ils les grandes décisions à l’automne ?
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U.S. State Department (July 30, 1945)
Conversation between members of the U.S. and Polish Delegations
It is not known definitely who participated in this conversation, although it appears from Despres’ memorandum of his conversation with Minc on July 29 that Major General Echols was one of the participants for the United States.
Diary Entry by the Polish Deputy Prime Minister
[Babelsberg, July 30, 1945]
[Translation]
A Polish-American conference was held at the headquarters of the Polish Delegation concerning a transaction with regard to 2,500 tons of coal to be delivered to the American occupation sector in Berlin. The transaction was based on a payment in dollars, but the Polish side retained the right to accept oil or gasoline in payment for the supply of coal. The Americans would provide railroad freight cars for the coal and would send them to the place of loading.
Byrnes-Molotov meeting, 4:30 p.m.
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | Soviet Union | |
| Secretary Byrnes | Foreign Commissar Molotov | |
| Mr. Bohlen | Mr. Pavlov |
Bohlen Minutes
Potsdam, July 30, 1945, 4:30 p.m.
Top secret
THE SECRETARY said he wanted to talk to Mr. Molotov on two or three questions of importance still open before the Foreign Ministers’ meeting this afternoon.
He said, first of all, he wished to tell Mr. Molotov that in regard to the Polish western frontier, we were prepared as a concession to meet the Soviet desire and he, therefore, had a revised paper on this subject (copy attached). He pointed out that this would put Polish administration up to the western as against the eastern Neisse.
MR. MOLOTOV expressed his gratification at this proposal.
THE SECRETARY then said the next question was Italy and the entry of Italy into the United Nations. He had again been endeavoring to find a compromise between his British and Soviet friends. He proposed a new sentence at the end of the third paragraph and a new paragraph regarding freedom of the allied press to report on events in Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland (copy attached).
MR. MOLOTOV, after hearing a translation of these changes, said while he could not say finally he believed that they would be acceptable to the Soviet Delegation.
THE SECRETARY then said we come to the most difficult of all the questions, namely, that of reparations. He said that he had a new proposal to make and handed Mr. Molotov the revised United States formula (copy attached). He emphasized that this was a United States proposal and that he had not yet consulted the British, adding that if they could reach agreement here on this question he would go to see the British this afternoon and endeavor to persuade them to agree.
MR. MOLOTOV studied the new proposals and then asked who was to determine what equipment was suitable for reparations.
THE SECRETARY replied that he thought since the Ruhr lay in the British zone that that would be for the British to determine on the basis of what must be left there in order to maintain the minimum required standard of living.
MR. MOLOTOV said he thought that determination of reparation materials should be done on an Allied basis in which the Soviets would participate. He suggested that it either be the Control Council or the Reparations Commission.
THE SECRETARY said that that was a possibility and should be studied. He said the Control Council operating for all Germany could determine the general norms of living standards, but that the final authority would probably remain in the commander-in-chief of the given zone, since he was responsible for that zone.
MR. MOLOTOV remarked that the Secretary’s draft did not mention any possibility of the Control Council or the Reparations Commission determining what equipment was available for reparations. Mr. Molotov then proposed that instead of the 12% [15%?] of reparations to be received without exchange that that figure be raised to 25%, thus making 25% from the Ruhr to be exchanged and 25% without exchange to the Soviet Union.
THE SECRETARY said he doubted if the British would agree to any such figure. He felt that it would be difficult enough to get them to agree to his proposal.
MR. MOLOTOV then reverted to his argument of yesterday and to the necessity of having a fixed figure either in dollars or in pounds. He repeated all his arguments on this point.
THE SECRETARY replied for his part, giving the arguments as to why it was impossible and dangerous for us to attempt to fix a definite figure either for tonnage or for dollar value at this time.
MR. MOLOTOV said he could only give a preliminary opinion and would, of course, have to consult Marshal Stalin. He said he thought the three points of difficulty would be:
- who was to determine reparations equipment,
- the absence of a fixed sum, and
- the question of deliveries from the Soviet zone.
He said that before meeting Mr. Byrnes today they had prepared a counter suggestion and he handed the Secretary a copy in Russian (copy in translation attached). He then said he wished to talk about the Ruhr, that he felt that in confining the removals for the Soviet Union to the Ruhr area it narrowed the base, since there was industrial equipment in the United States zone as well.
THE SECRETARY explained that the United States from its zone would have to help meet claims from other countries, such as France, Holland, Belgium, Yugoslavia, and others. He said that under his scheme the Soviet Union would be responsible for reparations to Poland, but that the reparations for other countries would come from the western zones.
MR. MOLOTOV said that despite the difference still existing he felt that some progress had been made in this question of reparations and he would so report to Marshal Stalin. He then said they had a proposal in regard to the question of the Ruhr as a whole. He recalled that there had been much discussion at previous conferences in regard to the internationalization of the Ruhr, but he said that nothing lately had been heard of it.
THE SECRETARY reminded Mr. Molotov that at one time President Roosevelt had been in favor of the dismemberment of Germany but had subsequently changed his mind. He recalled Marshal Stalin’s talks with Mr. Hopkins last spring on this point.
MR. MOLOTOV agreed and said that the paper he was now handing to the Secretary merely dealt with the setup of an Allied Commission composed of the four occupying powers to administer the Ruhr under the general direction of the Control Council (copy attached). Mr. Molotov said he had two other papers to hand the Secretary: one in regard to Italian and Austrian reparations based on the discussions of the Big Three, and the other, concerning war criminals which listed the first ten of such war criminals which were to be brought to trial in the near future. (Copies attached).
THE SECRETARY remarked that he had understood that Marshal Stalin had agreed to drop reparations from Austria.
MR. MOLOTOV replied they might be prepared to withdraw the reference to Austria but that the Yugoslavs would be offended, adding however, that if Yugoslavia received reparations from other sources she might be satisfied.
THE SECRETARY, in conclusion, said he wished to emphasize once again that these proposals were United States proposals and had not yet received British consent.
740.00119 (Potsdam)/7-3045
Proposal by the U.S. Delegation
[Babelsberg,] July 30, 1945
Western Frontier of Poland
In conformity with the agreement on Poland reached at the Crimean Conference the three Heads of Government have sought the opinion of the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity in regard to the accession of territory in the north and west which Poland should receive. The President of Poland and members of the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity have been received at the Conference and have fully presented their views. The three Heads of Government reaffirm their opinion that the final delimitation of the western frontier of Poland should await the peace settlement.
The three Heads of Government agree that, pending the final determination of Poland’s western frontier, the former German territories east of a line running from the Baltic Sea through Swinemünde, and thence along the Oder River to the confluence of the western Neisse River2 and along the western Neisse to the Czechoslovak frontier, including that portion of East Prussia not placed under the administration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in accordance with the understanding reached at this conference and including the area of the former free city of Danzig, shall be under the administration of the Polish State and for such purposes should not be considered as part of the Soviet zone of occupation in Germany.
740.00119 (Potsdam)/7-3045
Proposal by the U.S. Delegation
[Babelsberg,] July 30, 1945
Admission to the United Nations
The Three Governments consider it desirable that the present anomalous position of Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary and Rumania should be terminated by the conclusion of Peace Treaties, so that as soon as possible thereafter relations between them and the ex-enemy States can, where necessary, be reestablished on a normal footing. They trust that the other interested Allied Governments will share these views.
For their part the Three Governments have included the preparation of a Peace Treaty with Italy as the first among the immediate important tasks to be undertaken by the new Council of Foreign Ministers. Italy was the first of the Axis Powers to break with Germany, to whose defeat she has made a material contribution, and has now joined with the Allies in the struggle against Japan. Italy has freed herself from the Fascist regime and is making good progress towards the reestablishment of a democratic government and institutions. The conclusion of such a Peace Treaty with a recognized and democratic Italian Government will make it possible for the Three Governments to fulfil their desire to support an application from Italy for membership of the United Nations.
The Three Governments have also charged the Council of Foreign Ministers with the task of preparing Peace Treaties for Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary and Rumania. The conclusion of Peace Treaties with recognized democratic Governments in these States will also enable the Three Governments to support applications from them for membership of the United Nations. The three Governments agree to examine each separately in the near future, in the light of the conditions then prevailing, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Finland, Rumania, Bulgaria, and Hungary to the extent possible prior to the ratification of peace treaties with these countries.
The three Governments express the desire that in view of the changed conditions resulting from the termination of the war in Europe, representatives of the Allied press shall enjoy full freedom to report to the world upon developments in Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland.
As regards the admission of other states into the United Nations Organization, Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations declared that:
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Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving States who accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations;
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the admission of any such State to membership in the United Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
The Three Governments, so far as they are concerned, will support applications for membership from those States which have remained neutral during the war and which fulfil the qualifications set out above.
The Three Governments feel bound however to make it clear that they for their part would not favor any application for membership put forward by the present Spanish Government, which, having been founded with the support of the Axis Powers, does not, in view of its origins, its nature, its record and its close association with the aggressor States, possess the qualifications necessary to justify such membership.
740.00119 (Potsdam)/7-3045
Proposal by the U.S. Delegation
[Babelsberg,] July 30, 1945
German Reparations
Reparations claims of Russia and Poland to be satisfied from the Russian zone plus
(a) 25% of such industrial capital equipment as we determine is not necessary for a peace economy and should be removed from the Ruhr on condition that there would be exchanged an equivalent value in food, coal, potash, zinc, timber, clay products and oil products, to be made available to us by the Soviets.
(b) An additional 15% of such industrial capital equipment as is determined unnecessary for a peace economy should be transferred from the Ruhr to the Soviet government without payment or exchange of any kind in return.