America at war! (1941–) – Part 5

VII. War crimes

The Three Governments have taken note of the discussions which have been proceeding in recent weeks in London between British, United States, Soviet and French representatives with a view to reaching agreement on the methods of trial of those major war criminals whose crimes under the Moscow Declaration of October, 1943 have no particular geographical localisation. The Three Governments reaffirm their intention to bring these criminals to swift and sure justice. They hope that the negotiations in London will result in speedy agreement being reached for this purpose, and they regard it as a matter of great importance that the trial of these major criminals should begin at the earliest possible date. The first list of defendants will be published before 1st September.

VIII. Austria

The Conference examined a proposal by the Soviet Government on the extension of the authority of the Austrian Provisional Government to all of Austria.

The three Governments agreed that they were prepared to examine this question after the entry of the British and American forces into the city of Vienna.

It was agreed that reparations should not be exacted from Austria.

IX. Poland

A. Declaration
We have taken note with pleasure of the agreement reached among representative Poles from Poland and abroad which has made possible the formation, in accordance with the decisions reached at the Crimea Conference, of a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity recognised by the Three Powers. The establishment by the British and United States Governments of diplomatic relations with the Polish Provisional Government has resulted in the withdrawal of their recognition from the former Polish Government in London, which no longer exists.

The British and U.S. Governments have taken measures to protect the interests of the Polish Provisional Government, as the recognised Government of the Polish State, in the property belonging to the Polish State located in their territories and under their control whatever the form of this property may be. They have further taken measures to prevent alienation to third parties of such property. All proper facilities will be given to the Polish Provisional Government for the exercise of the ordinary legal remedies for the recovery of any property belonging to the Polish State which may have been wrongfully alienated.

The Three Powers are anxious to assist the Polish Provisional Government56 in facilitating the return to Poland as soon as practicable of all Poles abroad who wish to go, including members of the Polish armed forces and the merchant marine. They expect that those Poles who return home shall be accorded personal rights and property rights on the same basis as all Polish citizens.

The Three Powers note that the Polish Provisional Government in accordance with the decisions of the Crimea Conference has agreed to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soon as possible on the basis of universal suffrage and secret ballot in which all democratic and anti-Nazi parties shall have the right to take part and to put forward candidates; and that representatives of the Allied Press shall enjoy full freedom to report to the world upon developments in Poland before and during the elections.

B. Western Frontier of Poland
In conformity with the agreement on Poland reached at the Crimea 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 the National Council 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 immediately west [of] Swinemunde, and thence along the Oder River to the confluence of the western Neisse River 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.

X. Conclusion of peace treaties and admission to the United Nations Organisation

The Three Governments consider it desirable that the present anomalous position of Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary and Roumania should be terminated by the conclusion of Peace Treaties. 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, who [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 reestablishment of a democratic government and institutions. The conclusion of such a Peace Treaty with a recognised 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 Roumania. The conclusion of Peace Treaties with recognised 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, Roumania, Bulgaria, and Hungary to the extent possible prior to the conclusion of peace treaties with those countries.

The Three Governments have no doubt that in view of the changed conditions resulting from the termination of the war in Europe, representatives of the Allied Press will enjoy full freedom to report to the world upon developments in Roumania, 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:

  1. 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;

  2. 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 favour 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.

XI. Territorial trusteeship

The Conference examined a proposal by the Soviet Government on the question of trusteeship territories envisaging those categories of territories as defined in the decision of the Crimea Conference and in the Charter of the United Nations Organisation.

After an exchange of views on this question it was decided that the disposition of any former Italian territories was one to be decided in connection with the preparation of a peace treaty with Italy and that the question of Italian territory would be considered by the September Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

XII. Revised Allied Control Commission procedure in Roumania, Bulgaria and Hungary

The Three Governments have taken76 note that the Soviet Representatives on the Allied Control Commissions in Roumania, Bulgaria and Hungary, have communicated to their United Kingdom and United States colleagues proposals for improving the work of the Control Commissions, now that hostilities in Europe have ceased.

The Three Governments agree that the revision of the procedures of the Allied Control Commissions in these countries will now be undertaken, taking into account the interests and responsibilities of the Three Governments which together presented the terms of armistice to the respective countries, and accepting as a basis, in respect of all three countries, the Soviet Government’s proposals for Hungary as annexed hereto.

Annex

Text of a letter transmitted on July 12 to the representatives of the U.S. and U.K. governments on the Allied Control Commission in Hungary

In view of the changed situation in connection with the termination of the war against Germany, the Soviet Government finds it necessary to establish the following order of work for the Allied Control Commission in Hungary.

  1. During the period up to the conclusion of peace with Hungary the President (or Vice-President) of the ACC will regularly call conferences with the British and American representatives for the purpose of discussing the most important questions relating to the work of the ACC. The conferences will be called once in 10 days, or more frequently in case of need.

    Directives of the ACC on questions of principle will be issued to the Hungarian authorities by the President of the Allied Control Commission after agreement on these directives with the English and American representatives.

  2. The British and American representatives in the ACC will take part in general conferences of heads of divisions and delegates of the ACC, convoked by the President of the ACC, which meetings will be regular in nature. The British and American representatives will also participate personally or through their representatives in appropriate instances in mixed commissions created by the President of the ACC for questions connected with the execution by the ACC of its functions.

  3. Free movement by the American and British representatives in the country will be permitted provided that the ACC is previously informed of the time and route of the journeys.

  4. All questions connected with permission for the entrance and exit of members of the staff of the British and American representatives in Hungary will be decided on the spot by the President of the ACC within a time limit of not more than one week.

  5. The bringing in and sending out by plane of mail, cargoes and diplomatic couriers will be carried out by the British and American representatives on the ACC under arrangements and within time limits established by the ACC, or in special cases by previous coordination with the President of the ACC.

    I consider it necessary to add to the above that in all other points the existing Statutes regarding the ACC in Hungary, which was confirmed on January 20, 1945, shall remain in force in the future.

XIII. Orderly transfer of German populations

The Three Governments, having considered the question in all its aspects, recognise that the transfer to Germany of German populations, or elements thereof, remaining in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, will have to be undertaken. They agree that any transfers that take place should be effected in an orderly and humane manner.

Since the influx of a large number of Germans into Germany would increase the burden already resting on the occupying authorities, they consider that the Allied Control Council in Germany should in the first instance examine the problem, with special regard to the question of the equitable distribution of these Germans among the several zones of occupation. They are accordingly instructing their respective representatives on the Control Council to report to their Governments as soon as possible the extent to which such persons have already entered Germany from Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and to submit an estimate of the time and rate at which further transfers could be carried out having regard to the present situation in Germany.

The Czechoslovak Government, the Polish Provisional Government and the Control Council in Hungary are at the same time being informed of the above and are being requested meanwhile to suspend further expulsions pending an examination by the Governments concerned of the report from their representatives on the Control Council.

XIV. Oil equipment in Rumania

The Conference agreed to set up two bilateral commissions of experts, one to be composed of United Kingdom and Soviet Members, and one to be composed of United States and Soviet members, to investigate the facts and examine the documents, as a basis for the settlement of questions arising from the removal of oil equipment from Rumania. It was further agreed that these experts shall begin their work within ten days, on the spot.

XV. Iran

It was agreed that Allied troops should be withdrawn immediately from Tehran, and that further stages of the withdrawal of troops from Iran should be considered at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in London in September, 1945.

XVI. The Interna[t]ional Zone of Tangier

A proposal by the Soviet Government was examined and the following decisions were reached.
Having examined the question of the Zone of Tangier, the three Governments have agreed that this Zone, which includes the city of Tangier and the area adjacent to it, in view of its special strategic importance shall remain international.

The question of Tangier will be discussed in the near future at a meeting in Paris of representatives of the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States of America, the United Kin[g]dom and France.

XVII. The Black Sea Straits

The three Governments recognised the need for revision of the Convention on the Straits concluded at Montreux as failing to meet present-day conditions.

It was agreed that as the next step the matter should be the subject of direct conversations between each of the three Governments and the Turkish Government.

XVIII. International inland waterways

The Conference considered a proposal of the U.S. Delegation on this subject and agreed to refer it for consideration to the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London.

XIX. European inland transport conference

The British and U.S. Delegations to the Conference informed the Soviet Delegation of the desire of the British and U.S. Governments to reconvene the European Inland Transport Conference and stated that they would welcome assurance that the Soviet Government would participate in the work of the reconvened conference. The Soviet Government agreed that it would participate in this conference.

XX. Directives to military commanders on Allied Control Council for Germany

The three Governments agreed that each would send a directive to its representative on the Control Council for Germany informing him of all decisions of the Conference affecting matters within the scope of his duties.

XXI. Use of Allied property for satellite reparations or “war trophies”

The proposal presented by the U.S. Delegation was accepted in principle by the Conference, but the drafting of an agreement on the matter was left to be worked out through diplomatic channels.

Log of the President’s Trip to the Berlin Conference

Wednesday, August 1:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The President spent the forenoon working on his mail and studying reports on subjects due to come up for discussion in the afternoon session of the conference.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1445: The President left the Little White House for Cecilienhof, where he arrived at 1455. Shortly after his arrival at the Palace, the President and other members of the Big Three, together with their Foreign Secretaries and Admiral Leahy, posed for newsreel and still pictures.

1530: The twelfth meeting of the Big Three was convened. The meeting adjourned at 1750, when it was announced that a final session had been called for 2100 tonight.

The President left Cecilienhof at 1800 and returned to the Little White House.

1900: Captain Ross and First Lieutenant McDonald were dinner guests at the Little White House this evening.

2145: The President and party left the Little White House for Cecilienhof. The 2100 meeting was delayed until 2200 to permit the various delegations more time to complete drafts of the communiqué to be considered at tonight’s meeting of the conference. The President and Secretary Byrnes arrived at Cecilienhof at 2155 and devoted the next 30 minutes to the study of our proposed draft of the conference communiqué.

2230: The thirteenth meeting of the Berlin Conference convened. This session was devoted almost entirely to the study of, and approval of, the final tripartite communiqué. The communiqué was agreed on shortly after midnight. Release time was agreed for 1730 (local time) tomorrow in Washington and concurrently in London and Moscow. A copy of the communiqué is appended hereto. At 0030 (August 2, 1945) the Berlin Conference formally adjourned. The delegates spent the next few minutes saying goodbyes. The President and his party then, at 0040, left the Palace to return to the Little White House.

The Syonan Shimbun (August 2, 1945)

Severe fighting breaks out in Burma: enemy on defensive

Nippon units capture Pyu, other vital points

1,021 enemy planes, 21 surface ships, 5 submarines: Toll since Okinawa

Enemy paying heavy price in staying around

N.Y. Times: Britain today facing ‘hardest fight in history’

Potsdam confab issues most complicated

LISBON (Domei, August 1) – With the issuance of the final communiqué on the Potsdam Conference expected within the next 24 hours, Sylvain Mangeot, Reuters diplomatic correspondent, today reported in a dispatch from Potsdam that the forthcoming communiqué will deal chiefly with five issues which have come to the front since the holding of the Yalta Conference in February this year.

These are briefly, firstly, the occupation and control of Germany; secondly, repatriation; thirdly, organization of future world security; fourthly, Yugoslavia; and, fifthly, Poland, he forecasts. He considered the forthcoming Potsdam communiqué as a comprehensive outline of a “three-power” policy in the first phase of European peace, as the Yalta communiqué was for the last phase of the European war.

Mangeot said the Germans are waiting with deep concern and anxiety at the expected decisions affecting the future of the Reich, the definition of the new Western boundary of Poland and also a statement of official policy regarding the fate of German nationals whose homes are in territories to be ceded by Germany to Poland.

Truman’s big task

Nippon Bougainville forces battling stoutly

Foe pinned down in Balikpapan

Editorial: Time on side of Nippon

Salzburger Nachrichten (August 2, 1945)

Tschiangkaischeks politischer Sieg

Japans Flotte als kampfkraftiges Instrument gaenzich ausgeschaltet

‚Sie sprachen von Ehre‘

General Keyes an seine Truppen

Laval auf dem Weg nach Paris

Frau Roosevelt über Churchill

NEW YORK (PW) – Frau Eleanor Roosevelt, die Witwe Franklin Roosevelts, erklärt im New York World Telegram:

Winston Churchills wertvoller Dienst wird mit der Wahl des neuen Premierministers Clement Attlee nicht aufhören. Die Niederlage der Partei Churchills ist keineswegs eine Niederlage Churchills selbst. Niemand im britischen Weltreich oder in den USA, der seine tapferen Worte nach Dünkirchen hörte, wird je etwas anderes als Achtung, Dankbarkeit und Zuneigung zu Churchill als Mann und Führer im Krieg empfinden.

Truman besucht König Georg

LONDON (OWI) – Laut einer „Associated Press“-Meldung wird offiziell bekanntgegeben, dass Präsident Truman am 2. August nach England fliegen Wird, um mit König Georg VI. auf dem Schlachtschiff Renown zusammenzutreffen.

L’Aube (August 2, 1945)

La conférence de Potsdam est terminée

mais le « blackout » continue

Devant Plymouth –
Truman et George VI se rencontrent aujourd’hui en mer

Laval est écroué à Fresnes

« Je viens pour me défendre et pour accuser » a-t-il affirmé

« La flotte japonaise a cessé d’exister »

annonce le sous-secrétaire américain à la Marine