America at war! (1941–) – Part 5

7979 
740.00119 Potsdam/7-3145

U.S. Delegation Memorandum

Potsdam, July 31, 1945, 4:00 p.m.

Summary of Meeting of Heads of Government, July 31, 1945

  1. German Reparations. The U.S. draft on this subject was accepted with the following changes:

    a. The figure of 12½% for compensated deliveries to the Soviets was changed to 15% and the figure of 7½% for uncompensated deliveries was changed to 10%.

    b. France was added to the Reparations Commission for the purpose of determining equipment available for reparations.

    c. Six months was fixed as the final term for determination of the amount of equipment available for reparation.

    A subcommittee was named to prepare the final draft on this subject.

  2. Polish Western Frontier. The U.S. draft on this subject was accepted. It was further agreed (a) that Stettin should be considered as included within the area of Polish administration; (6) that the French should be informed of the decision on the Polish frontier; and (c) that the President should notify the Poles of this decision.

  3. Admission to the United Nations. The U.S. paper on this subject was approved with three minor verbal changes.

  4. German Economic Principles. Several U.S. suggestions were approved including the deletion of the last sentence of paragraph 14d. Paragraph 18 was dropped. Paragraph 19 was referred to the Economic Subcommittee for final consideration.

  5. The Ruhr. On the motion of Mr. Bevin the Soviet proposal on this subject was referred to the Council of Foreign Ministers. The U.S. and Soviets were in agreement that the Ruhr is a part of Germany and all three governments were in agreement that the Ruhr is under the authority of the Control Commission.

  6. German Political Principles. The British redraft of the Soviet proposal for an additional point on a central German administration was accepted.

  7. Transfer of German Populations from Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary. The U.S. paper on this subject was accepted. It was agreed that this decision should be communicated to the French.

  8. Disposition of the German Fleet and Merchant Marine. It was agreed that the subcommittee dealing with this subject should present its report tomorrow.

  9. Revised Allied Control Commission Procedure in Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary. It was agreed that the U.S. proposal on this subject should be discussed tomorrow.

  10. Yugoslavia. It was agreed to drop both the British and Soviet proposals on this subject.

  11. War Crimes. This question was put over until tomorrow. The Russians agreed to the British text on this subject except that they wish to insert some of the names of the principal war criminals.

  12. Unrestricted Navigation of International Inland Waterways. It was agreed that this question should be referred to the Council of Foreign Ministers.

740.00119 Potsdam/7-3145

U.S. Delegation Memorandum

Potsdam, July 31, 1945, 4:00 p.m.

Pending Questions Before the Conference, Close of Business, July 31, 1945

1. German Reparations
A subcommittee is to present a draft embodying the agreement reached today.

2. German Economic Principles
The economic subcommittee is to present a final draft on this subject, particularly in regard to paragraph 19.

3. Italian Reparations
As no decision has been reached on this question, the Soviets may raise it again.

4. Disposition of the German Fleet and Merchant Marine
The subcommittee on this question will report tomorrow.

5. Revised Allied Control Commission Procedure in Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary
The U.S. paper on this subject will come up for discussion tomorrow.

6. War Crimes
The Soviets have approved the British draft but the question of whether or not certain prominent war criminals should be named remains open.

7. Use of Allied Property for Satellite Reparations or “War Trophies”
The U.S. paper on this subject has not yet been acted upon.

8. German External Assets
The U.S. proposal on this subject is still before the economic subcommittee.

9. Oil for Western Europe
The economic subcommittee has not yet reported on the U.S. proposal on this subject.

10. Allied Oil Equipment in Rumania
The latest British proposal7 on this subject has not yet been acted upon.

11. Directive to the Military Commanders in Germany
The subcommittee is awaiting completion of the work of the Conference in relation to Germany.

7980 
740.00119 (Potsdam)/7-3145

The Ambassador in France to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs

Paris, July 31, 1945
No. 533

Excellency: Acting under instructions from my Government, I have the honor to transmit an invitation on behalf of my Government to the Government of France to participate in the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Five Great Powers.

Your Excellency will note that my Government attaches much importance to the participation of the French Government in the proposed arrangements and hopes to receive an early and favorable reply to this invitation.

I avail myself [etc.]

JEFFERSON CAFFERY

[Enclosure]

The Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and the USSR consider it necessary to begin without delay the essential preparatory work upon the peace settlements in Europe. To this end they are agreed that there should be established a Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Five Great Powers to prepare treaties of peace with the European enemy States, for submission to the United Nations. The Council would also be empowered to propose settlements of outstanding territorial questions in Europe and to consider such other matters as member Governments might agree to refer to it.

The text adopted by the Three Governments is as follows:

It was agreed that the three Governments should each address an identical invitation to the Governments of China and France to adopt this text and to join in establishing the Council.

It was understood that the establishment of the Council of Foreign Ministers for the specific purposes named in the text would be without prejudice to the agreement of the Crimea Conference that there should be periodical consultation between the Foreign Secretaries of the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom.

The Conference also considered the position of the European Advisory Commission in the light of the agreement to establish the Council of Foreign Ministers. It was noted with satisfaction that the Commission had ably discharged its principal tasks by the recommendations that it had furnished for the terms of surrender for Germany, for the zones of occupation in Germany and Austria, and for the inter-Allied control machinery in these countries. It was felt that further work of a detailed character for the co-ordination of Allied policy for the control of Germany and Austria would in future fall within the competence of the Allied Control Commission at Berlin and the Allied Commission at Vienna. Accordingly the Conference agreed to recommend to the Member Governments of the European Advisory Commission that the Commission might now be dissolved.

In agreement with the Governments of the United Kingdom and USSR, the United States Government extends a cordial invitation to the Government of France to adopt the text quoted above and to join in setting up the Council. The United States Government attaches much importance to the participation of the French Government in the proposed arrangements and it hopes to receive an early and favorable reply to this invitation.

The three governments also considered the position of the European Advisory Commission in the light of the agreement to establish the Council of Foreign Ministers. It was noted with satisfaction that the Commission had ably discharged its principal task by the recommendations that it had furnished for the terms of surrender for Germany, for the zones of occupation in Germany and Austria and for the Inter Allied Control machinery in those countries. It was felt that further work of a detailed character for the coordination of allied policy for the control of Germany and Austria would in future fall within the competence of the Allied Control Commission at Berlin and the Allied Commission at Vienna. Accordingly, the three governments have agreed to recommend to the French government that the Commission might now be dissolved.

740.00119 (Potsdam)/7-3145

The Ambassador in France to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs

Paris, July 31, 1945
Secret
No. 669

Excellency: Acting under instructions from my Government, I have the honor to transmit a communication on behalf of my Government to the Government of France relating to political principles which the Government of the United States considers should govern the treatment of Germany in the initial control period. It is the earnest wish of my Government that the Government of France will be able to associate itself with these principles.

Your Excellency will note that my Government will be grateful if the Government of France would treat the present communication as strictly secret until such time as an official statement is issued by the Conference.

I avail myself [etc.]

JEFFERSON CAFFERY

[Enclosure]

The Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have agreed upon the following political principles which they consider should govern the treatment of Germany in the initial control period. It is their intention to communicate the text of these principles to the Commanders-in-Chief of their respective forces of occupation in Germany after the conclusion of the present Conference and to instruct them to be guided by these principles in their action in their respective zones of occupation, and to concert with their colleagues on the Control Council in working out the application of these principles in such a way as to ensure the appropriate uniformity of action in zones of occupation.

It is the earnest wish of the three Governments that the Provisional Government of the French Republic will be able to associate itself with these principles and to send similar instructions after the conclusion of the Conference to the Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces of Occupation.

The three Governments would be grateful if the French Provisional Government would treat the present communication as strictly secret until such a time as an official statement is issued by the Conference.

Agreement on Political Principles to Govern the Treatment of Germany in the Initial Control Period

  1. In accordance with the Agreement on Control Machinery in Germany, supreme authority in Germany is exercised, on instructions from their respective Governments, by the Commanders-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the French Republic, each in his own zone of occupation, and also jointly, in matters affecting Germany as a whole, in their capacity as members of the Control Council.

  2. So far as is practicable, there shall be uniformity of treatment of the German population throughout Germany.

  3. The purposes of the occupation of Germany by which the Control Council shall be guided are:

    (i) The complete disarmament and demilitarization of Germany and the elimination or control of all German industry that could be used for military production. To these ends:

    • (a) All German land, naval and air forces, the SS, SA, SD and Gestapo, with all their organizations, staffs and institutions, including the General Staff, the Officers’ Corps, Reserve Corps, military schools, war veterans’ organizations and all other military and quasi-military organizations, together with all clubs and associations which serve to keep alive the military tradition in Germany, shall be completely and finally abolished in such manner as permanently to prevent the revival or reorganization of German militarism and Nazism;

    • (b) All arms, ammunition and implements of war and all specialized facilities for their production shall be held at the disposal of the Allies or destroyed. The maintenance and production of all aircraft and all arms, ammunition and implements of war shall be prevented.

    (ii) To convince the German people that they have suffered a total military defeat and that they cannot escape responsibility for what they have brought upon themselves, since their own ruthless warfare and the fanatical Nazi resistance have destroyed German economy and made chaos and suffering inevitable.

    (iii) To destroy the National Socialist Party and its affiliated and supervised organizations, to dissolve all Nazi institutions, to ensure that they are not revived in any form, and to prevent all Nazi and militarist activity or propaganda.

    (iv) To prepare for the eventual reconstruction of German political life on a democratic basis and for eventual peaceful cooperation in international life by Germany.

  4. All Nazi laws which provided the basis of the Hitler regime or established discrimination on grounds of race, creed, or political opinion shall be abolished. No such discriminations, whether legal, administrative or otherwise, shall be tolerated.

  5. War criminals and those who have participated in planning or carrying out Nazi enterprises involving or resulting in atrocities or war crimes shall be arrested and brought to judgment. Nazi leaders, influential Nazi supporters and high officials of Nazi organizations and institutions and any other persons dangerous to the occupation or its objectives shall be arrested and interned.

  6. All members of the Nazi Party who have been more than nominal participants in its activities and all other persons hostile to Allied purposes shall be removed from public and semi-public office, and from positions of responsibility in important private undertakings. Such persons shall be replaced by persons who, by their political and moral qualities, are deemed capable of assisting in developing genuine democratic institutions in Germany.

  7. German education shall be so controlled as completely to eliminate Nazi and militarist doctrines and to make possible the successful development of democratic ideas.

  8. The judicial system will be reorganized in accordance with the principles of democracy, of justice under law, and of equal rights for all citizens without distinction of race, nationality or religion.

  9. The administration of affairs in Germany should be directed towards the decentralization of the political structure and the development of local responsibility. To this end:

    (i) local self-government shall be restored throughout Germany on democratic principles and in particular through elective councils as rapidly as is consistent with military security and the purposes of military occupation;

    (ii) all democratic political parties with rights of assembly and of public discussion shall be allowed and encouraged throughout Germany;

    (iii) representative and elective principles shall be introduced into regional, provincial and state (Land) administration as rapidly as may be justified by the successful application of these principles in local self-government;

    (iv) for the time being, no central German Government shall be established. Notwithstanding this, however, certain essential central German administrative departments, headed by State Secretaries, shall be established, particularly in the fields of finance, transport, communications, foreign trade and industry. Such departments will act under the direction of the Control Council.

  10. Subject to the necessity for maintaining military security, freedom of speech, press and religion shall be permitted, and religious institutions shall be respected. Subject likewise to the maintenance of military security, the formation of free trade unions shall be permitted.

Paris, July 31, 1945

7981

Harriman conversation with members of the Polish Delegation, afternoon or early evening

Present
United States Poland
Mr. Harriman

Diary Entry by the Polish Deputy Prime Minister

[Babelsberg, July 31, 1945]
[Translation]

Mr. Harriman called in the afternoon. On behalf of President Truman, as chairman of the meeting of the Big Three which began at 4 o’clock, he invited the Polish Delegation to see President Truman the next day, when the latter would communicate the results of the meeting today.…

7982

Meeting of the Communiqué Subcommittee, evening

Present
United States United Kingdom Soviet Union
Mr. Brown United Kingdom Mr. Golunsky

Brown’s diary entry: “… Communiqué Committee met after Big Three meeting. We were well up with our work. …”

7983

The Pittsburgh Press (July 31, 1945)

B-29s to raze 8 more cities; Third Fleet’s toll: 1,023 ships

Superforts caution Japs to flee before firebombs rain down

…

7984

Big Three meets again after 2-day delay

Sessions near end; Stalin slightly ill

POTSDAM, Germany (UP) – President Truman, Prime Minister Attlee and Premier Stalin met for three and a half hours today after a two-day delay caused by the slight illness of the Soviet generalissimo.

The Potsdam conference was believed to be drawing to a close, but a spokesman said the Big Three plenary consultation was not yet finished.

ABC reported that armed officers had taken up guard over he broadcasting studio at Potsdam “to prevent premature disclosure of the end of the Big Three Conference.”

A London dispatch said Prime Minister Attlee was expected to return to London in time for the opening of the new Parliament tomorrow.

Stalin remained in his Berlin quarters Sunday and yesterday. His physician described his illness as a “slight indisposition” – presumably a cold or indigestion.

Others in conference

There was no explanation why official spokesmen told newsmen that the three leaders were continuing to meet during the period while Stalin was unable to attend the sessions.

Soviet Foreign Commissar V. M. Molotov met with President Truman and Mr. Attlee on behalf of Stalin Sunday.

Molotov also conferred with U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin both Sunday and yesterday.

Censorship blamed

The conference was originally scheduled to have ended yesterday with an important communiqué, but Stalin’s illness prolonged it through today and possibly tomorrow.

Although the delay was first disclosed last night, heavy censorship at the top made a major mystery out of it by banning all mention of the reason for the interruption.

It was believed that the three chiefs of state still have major decisions to make on explosive problems relating to the Pacific War and occupation of Europe.

Truman slated to visit Britain

LONDON, England (UP) – Well-informed sources said today that President Truman will land in British soil late this week and be greeted by King George.

Informants reported that the King will go to some British port, probably Plymouth, to welcome Mr. Truman to Britain in a meeting unprecedented in royal history.

Indications were that the meeting would occur Thursday or Friday. That presumably meant that the Big Three meeting will be ended by then.

The King was originally scheduled to leave London tonight, it was reported, but the plans were changed because Premier Stalin’s indisposition delayed the Potsdam proceedings for two days.

Court circles said the King’s reported journey to welcome a foreign dignitary to Britain for a few hours will be the first time the sovereign ever paid such an exceptional honor. Normally he stays in the Palace and receives visitors to his court.

The King’s reported decision to break precedent was said to be based on a desire to honor the United States and repay the courtesies tendered him during his visit to America.

Big Three meeting bogs down?

LONDON, England – The impression is gaining ground that the Big Three meeting at Potsdam, acclaimed in advance as one of the great meetings of modern history, will fall somewhat short of expectations.

There appears no other explanation for the widespread confusion, which has marked the course of the conference, and the hasty manner in which it appears to be ending.

One thing is certain. Many matters which were pressing for consideration at the meeting cannot possibly have been settled up to now and must remain in abeyance if, as reported, the leaders are leaving Potsdam tonight. This may not have been the result of disagreement, but it must have resulted from a feeling that agreement at this time was not possible on certain problems.

7985

Coal crisis threatens industry with 4-day week, senators told

Steel mills among those facing cutbacks; coldest winter of war forecast by Ickes

…

7986

Army to release Roosevelt August 15

Elliott is thanked for ‘efficiency’

…

7987

France’s faithful guardian, Weygand asserts of Petain

General testifies armistice negotiated by Petain eased American invasion of Africa

…

7988

Laval surrenders to U.S. troops

Kicked out of Spain, he flies to Austria

…

7989

‘2nd wife’ WAC seeks annulment

…

7990

I DARE SAY —
Whom the Gods destroy

By Florence Fisher Parry

…

7991

Army seizes strike-bound rubber plant

Production normal in Detroit factory

…

7992

‘Army wives’ trips abroad has ‘em guessing in capital

Gen. ‘Ike’ seems to favor domestic life for men later on; Truman doesn’t

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7993

Discharged G.I.’s to receive gas

…

7994

6,000 Japs killed fleeing Burma

Enemy troops caught in crossfire

…

7995

Raids on Japs cause serious food situation

Imports hampered, fishing curtailed

…

Bomber flies 550 miles from Japan on one engine

B-25 lands on Okinawa with one minute’s gas supply left after battling Nip fighters

…

7996

U.S. planes killed Jap Navy chief

Enemy war reporter tells of Yamamoto

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7997

Jap rear guards pounded in Borneo

Enemy continues to flee northward

…

U.S. fliers blast 2,000 Jap boats

…

7998

Germans fleeced of millions

Nazis got special tax exemptions

…