023.1/9-1454
Proposal by the British Delegation
[Babelsberg, July 19, 1945]
[Draft of a Statement on Poland]
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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.
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The British and United States Governments express their willingness to discuss with properly accredited representatives of the Polish Provisional Government the orderly transfer to it of Polish State property, including the Polish Embassies in London and Washington, in regard to which measures of conservation have been taken by the two Governments. They assume that such discussions would embrace also the questions of the acknowledgement by the Polish Provisional Government of liability for the credits advanced to the late Polish Government and other outstanding debts, and the relation of such advances to any assets of the Polish State available abroad.
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The Three Powers are anxious to assist the Polish Provisional Government 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 Merchant Marine. It is their desire that as many of these Poles as possible should return home, and they consider that the Polish Provisional Government could itself greatly assist in this regard by giving specific undertakings that those Poles who return will do so with full assurance of their personal security, freedom and livelihood.
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The Three Powers note that the Polish Provisional Government is pledged 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. It is the confident hope of the Three Powers that the elections will be so organised as to enable all sections of Polish opinion to express their views freely, and thus play their full part in the restoration of the country’s political life. The Three Powers will further expect that representatives of the Allied Press shall enjoy full freedom to report to the world upon developments in Poland before and during the elections.
740.00119 Potsdam/7-1945
Proposal by the British Delegation
July 19, 1945
Yugoslavia
At the Crimea Conference on February 10th the Heads of the three Governments discussed the Yugoslav question and agreed to recommend to Marshal Tito and Dr. Šubašić that the agreement between them be put into effect and a new government formed on the basis of the agreement.
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The three Governments have thus endorsed the Tito-Šubašić Agreement, with its guarantees of the basic principles of democratic liberties, in particular personal freedom, freedom from fear, freedom of religion and conscience, freedom of speech, press meetings and associations, and the right of property and private initiative, and with the promise of a democratic election within three months of the Yugoslav liberation.
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Doubtless owing to war conditions, the principles set out in the Tito-Šubašić Agreement have not been fully carried out. In view of the declaration issued at Yalta, it is desirable that, at the close of the present meeting, the three Heads of Governments should issue a statement recalling the fact that they had given recognition to the Yugoslav Government on the basis of the Yalta Agreement and the Tito-Šubašić Agreement, which they expect to be fully carried out in the near future.
740.00119 Potsdam/7-1945
Proposal by the British Delegation
TERMINAL, 19th July, 1945
Secret
P (TERMINAL) 10
The Removal as Booty of Allied Industrial Equipment Especially in Roumania
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Large sums of British capital are invested in companies producing oil in Roumania. In October, 1944, the Soviet authorities in Roumania removed large quantities of equipment from these British companies and from other Allied-owned companies, on the grounds that it was war booty.
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The resulting damage to British interests was very considerable. Furthermore, the action taken has reduced the total output of Roumanian oil wells by one million tons a year, at a time of grave oil shortage. As a result, Roumania’s capacity to pay reparations and the revenue earning capacity of British and other Allied capital was diminished.
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In January, 1945, the Soviet Government agreed to discontinue removals of equipment. But the equipment already removed was not returned, nor did the Soviet Government agree to regard it as deliveries on account of reparations.
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Further oil equipment was removed from a British-controlled company in April.
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His Majesty’s Government ask that the equipment which has been removed from these British companies shall be returned as soon as possible. Furthermore, they ask that no further action damaging to these British companies shall be taken by the Soviet authorities, and that the consent of the British representative on the Allied Control Commission in Roumania shall be sought before any action in their regard is undertaken.