[ Editor’s Note .—Stapled on top of document No. 1380 is a sheet of paper bearing the signatures of the three Heads of Government, as follows:
| Approved: | И. Ctajiиh 2 |
| Harry S Truman | |
| C. R. Attlee |
This cover sheet was signed early on August 2, following discussion of the Communiqué at the Thirteenth Plenary Meeting. See ante , page 596. For the text of the Communiqué as actually released at the conclusion of the Conference by the Secretary to the President, see document No. 1384.]
[ Potsdam , August 1, 1945 .]Attached is revised draft of communiqué: The Committee 3a is in agreement on this draft with the following exceptions:
[1.] Introduction: (I) We and the British prefer the introduction in the attached draft. The Russians have submitted a substitute which is attached.
The differences are these: ( a ) The Russian draft breaks the introduction by listing all the names of the delegations, about 30 in all. Many of these ore military names and there is only one line in the communiqué about military talk. Our draft lists the Big Three and Foreign Ministers in the lead and the other names at the end of the communiqué. ( b ) Our communiqué gives more details as to the numbers and times of meetings held by the Big Three.
Neither we or the British feel strongly about the matter but thought we would let the Big Three decide.
2. On page 1 of Germany, III, last line of first paragraph the Russians wish to delete words “loudly applauded”. This is a British phrase which we accepted.
3. On orderly transfers of German populations, XIII, Russians wish to delete word “orderly” in title. Dunn and British feel this word should be retained since one of the two principal provisions of the agreement is that the transfers shall be orderly.
4. The British do not want to include Tangier (XVI) and Russians do not want to include Rumanian oil equipment (XIV). We prefer to include both.
5. Military Talks (XV).
This chapter caused much discussion. Neither Russians nor British like Leahy text. 4 We agreed to a single sentence stating Chiefs of [Page 1444] Staffs of the three Governments conferred “on military matters of common interest.”
All agreed on that yesterday.
The British agreed to go along with separate joint statement on Japanese War if we desired.
Today the Russians wanted to go back to sentence saying meetings were held by joint Chiefs of Staff “on military matters of common interest affecting Europe.”
We decided to pass this one up to the Big Three.
The following items are in the protocol but no mention is made of them in the communiqué: 1. Ruhr 2. Black Sea Straits 3. International inland waterways 4. European Inland Transport Conference 5. Directive to military commanders in Allied Control Council 6. Allied property in Southeastern Europe.
In connection with the discussion this afternoon on the inland waterways proposal, I would also like to call your attention to the fact that in Trusteeships (XI) and in the second part of Iran (XV) direct mention is made of the fact that the matters are being referred to the [Council of] Foreign Ministers.
W[ alter ] B[ rown ] 5 [Attachment]draft proposed by the soviet union of section i of the report on the tripartite conference at berlin
A Conference of the leaders of the three Allied Powers, the President of the United States of America, H. S. Truman , the President of the Council of Peoples Commissars, J. V. Stalin , the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston S. Churchill , and, from July 28 onwards, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Clement R. Attlee , took place in Berlin from July 17 until August 1, 1945, with the participation of the Foreign Secretaries, military and other advisers.
The President of the United States of America was invited by his two colleagues to be the Chairman of the Conference.
During the course of the Conference there were daily meetings of the Foreign Ministers. Committees appointed by the Foreign Ministers for preliminary consideration of the questions before the Conference also met daily.
The meetings of the Conference were held at the Cecilien Hof near Potsdam. The Conference ended on August 1, 1945.
Important decisions and agreements were reached and they are announced in this report. Views were exchanged on a number of other questions that deeply concern the three Governments and consideration of these matters will be continued by the Council of Foreign Ministers established by the Conference.
This Conference strengthened the ties among the three Governments and extended the scope of their collaboration and understanding.
President Truman , Generalissimo Stalin and Prime Minister Attlee leave this Conference with renewed confidence that their governments and peoples, together with the other United Nations, will ensure the creation of a just and enduring peace.
[ draft proposed by the united states and british delegations 6 ]
On July 17, 1945, the President of the United States of America, Harry S. Truman , the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Generalissimo J. V. Stalin , and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston S. Churchill , together with Mr. Clement R. Attlee , met in the Tripartite Conference of Berlin. They were accompanied by the foreign secretaries of the three Governments, Mr. James F. Byrnes , Mr. V. M. Molotov , and Mr. Anthony Eden , the Chiefs of Staff, and other advisers.
There were nine meetings between July 17 and July 25. The [Page 1446] Conference was then interrupted for two days while the results of the British general election were being declared.
On July 28 Mr. Attlee returned to the Conference as Prime Minister, accompanied by the new Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ernest Bevin . There were four additional meetings. During the course of the Conference there were daily meetings of the Foreign Ministers. Committees appointed by the Foreign Ministers for preliminary consideration of the questions before the Conference also met daily.
The meetings of the Conference were held at the Cecilien Hof near Potsdam. The Conference ended on August 1, 1945.
Important decisions and agreements were reached and they are announced in this report. Views were exchanged on a number of other questions that deeply concern the three Governments and consideration of these matters will be continued by the Council of Foreign Ministers established by the Conference.
This Conference strengthened the ties among the three governments and extended the scope of their collaboration and understanding.
President Truman , Generalissimo Stalin and Prime Minister Attlee leave this Conference with renewed confidence that their governments and peoples, together with the other United Nations, will ensure the creation of a just and enduring peace.
[ redraft by the british delegation 7 ]
On July 17, 1945, the President of the United States of America, Harry S. Truman , the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Generalissimo J. V. Stalin , and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston S. Churchill , together with Mr. Clement R. Attlee , met in the Tripartite Conference of Berlin. They were accompanied by the foreign secretaries of the three Governments, Mr. James F. Byrnes , Mr. V. M. Molotov , and Mr. Anthony Eden , the Chiefs of Staff, and other advisers.
There were nine meetings between July 17 and July 25. The Conference was then interrupted for two days while the results of the British general election were being declared.
On July 28 Mr. Attlee returned to the Conference as Prime Minister, accompanied by the new Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ernest Bevin . Four days of further discussion then took place. During the course of the Conference there were regular meetings of the Heads of the Three Governments accompanied by the foreign secretaries, and separate 8 meetings of the Foreign Secretaries alone. Committees appointed by the Foreign Secretaries for preliminary consideration of questions before the Conference also met daily.
The meetings of the Conference were held at the Cecilienhof near Potsdam. The Conference ended on August 1, 1945.
Important decisions and agreements were reached. Views were exchanged on a number of other questions 9 [that deeply concern the three Governments] 10 and consideration of these matters will be continued by the Council of Foreign Ministers established by the Conference.
President Truman , Generalissimo Stalin and Prime Minister Attlee leave this Conference, which has strengthened the ties between the three governments and extended the scope of their collaboration and understanding, with renewed confidence that their governments and peoples, together with the other United Nations, will ensure the creation of a just and enduring peace.
establishment of a council of foreign ministers
The Conference reached an agreement for the establishment of a Council of Foreign Ministers representing the five principal Powers to continue the necessary preparatory work for the peace settlements and to take up other matters which from time to time may be referred to the Council by agreement of the governments participating in the Council.
In accordance with the decision of the Conference the three Governments have each addressed an identical invitation to the Governments of China and France to adopt this text and to join in establishing the Council.
The establishment of the Council of Foreign Ministers for the specific purposes named in the text will be without prejudice to the agreement of the Crimea Conference that there should be periodic consultation among 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 Germany’s unconditional surrender[,] 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 [Page 1449] Allied policy for the control of Germany and Austria would in future fall within the competence of the Allied Control Council at Berlin and the Allied Commission at Vienna. Accordingly, it was agreed to recommend that the European Advisory Commission be dissolved.
The Allied armies are in occupation of the whole of Germany and the German people have begun to atone for the terrible crimes committed under the leadership of those whom, in the hour of their success, they (loudly applauded and) blindly obeyed. 11
Agreement has been reached at this Conference on the political and economic principles of a coordinated Allied policy toward defeated Germany during the period of Allied control.
The purpose of this agreement is to carry out the Crimea declaration on Germany. German militarism and Nazism will be extirpated and the Allies will take in agreement together, now and in the future, the other measures necessary to assure that Germany never again will threaten her neighbors or the peace of the world.
It is not the intention of the Allies to destroy or enslave the German people. It is the intention of the Allies that the German people be given the opportunity to prepare for the eventual reconstruction of their life on a democratic and peaceful basis. If their own efforts are steadily directed to this end, it will be possible for them in due course to take their place among the free and peaceful peoples of the world.
The text of the agreement is as follows:
The Political and Economic Principles to Govern the Treatment of Germany in the Initial Control Period .
A. Political Principles .
1. In accordance with the Agreement on Control Machinery in Germany, supreme authority in Germany is exercised on instructions from the 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: (1) 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 S. S., S. A., S. D. 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.
B. Economic Principles .
11. In order to eliminate Germany’s war potential, the production of arms, ammunition and implements of war as well as all types of aircraft and sea-going ships shall be prohibited and prevented. Production of metals, chemicals, machinery and other items that are directly necessary to a war economy shall be rigidly controlled and restricted to Germany’s approved post-war peacetime needs to meet the objectives stated in Paragraph 14. Productive capacity not needed for permitted production shall be removed in accordance with the reparations plan recommended by the Allied Commission on Reparations and approved by the Governments concerned or if not removed shall be destroyed. 12. At the earliest practicable date, the German economy shall be decentralized for the purpose of eliminating the present excessive concentration of economic power as exemplified in particular by cartels, syndicates, trusts and other monopolistic arrangements. Notwithstanding this, however, and for the purpose of achieving the objectives set forth herein, certain forms of central administrative [Page 1452] machinery, particularly in the fields of Finance, Transportation and Communications, shall be maintained or restored. 12 13. In organizing the German economy, primary emphasis shall be given to the development of agriculture and peaceful domestic industries. 14. During the period of occupation Germany shall be treated as a single economic unit. To this end common policies shall be established in regard to: ( a ) mining and industrial production and allocation; ( b ) agriculture, forestry and fishing; ( c ) wages, prices and rationing; ( d ) import and export programs for Germany as a whole; ( e ) currency and banking, central taxation and customs; ( f ) reparation and removal of industrial war potential; ( g ) transportation and communications. In applying these policies account shall be taken, where appropriate, of varying local conditions. 15. Allied controls shall be imposed upon the German economy but only to the extent necessary: ( a ) to carry out programs of industrial disarmament and demilitarization, of reparations, and of approved exports and imports. ( b ) to assure the production and maintenance of goods and services required to meet the needs of the occupying forces and displaced persons in Germany and essential to maintain in Germany average living standards not exceeding the average of the standards of living of European countries. (European countries means all European countries excluding U. K. and U. S. S. R.) ( c ) to ensure in the manner determined by the Control Council the equitable distribution of essential commodities between the several zones so as to produce a balanced economy throughout Germany and reduce the need for imports. ( d ) to control German industry and all economic and financial international transactions, including exports and imports, with the aim of preventing Germany from developing a war potential and of achieving the other objectives named herein. ( e ) to control all German public or private scientific bodies, research and experimental institutions, laboratories, cetera, connected with economic activities. 16. In the imposition and maintenance of economic controls established by the Control Council, German administrative machinery shall be created and the German authorities shall be required to the fullest extent practicable to proclaim and assume administration of such controls. Thus it should be brought home to the German people that the responsibility for the administration of such controls and any breakdown in these controls will rest with themselves. Any German controls which may run counter to the objectives of occupation will be prohibited. 17. Measures shall be promptly taken: ( a ) to effect essential repair of transport; ( b ) to enlarge coal production; ( c ) to maximize agriculture output; and ( d ) to effect emergency repair of housing and essential utilities. 18. Appropriate steps shall be taken by the Control Council to exercise control and the power of disposition over German owned external assets not already under the control of United Nations which have taken part in the war against Germany. 19. Payment of Reparations should leave enough resources to enable the German people to subsist without external assistance. In working out the economic balance of Germany the necessary means must be provided to pay for imports approved by the Control Council in Germany. The proceeds of exports from current production and stocks shall be available in the first place for payment for such imports. The above clause will not apply to the equipment and products referred to in paragraphs 4 ( a ) and 4 ( b ) of the Reparations Agreement.
reparations from germany
In accordance with the Crimea decision that Germany be compelled to compensate to the greatest possible extent for the loss and suffering that she has caused to the United Nations and for which the German people cannot escape responsibility, the following agreement on reparations was reached: 1. Reparation claims of U. S. S. R. shall be met by removals from the zone of Germany occupied by the U. S. S. R. 2. The U. S. S. R. undertakes to settle the reparation claims of Poland from its own share of reparations. 3. The reparations claims of the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries entitled to reparations shall be met from the Western Zones and from appropriate German external assets. 4. In addition to the reparations to be taken by the U. S. S. R. from its own zone of occupation, the U. S. S. R. shall receive additionally from the Western Zones: ( a ) 15 per cent of such usable and complete industrial capital equipment, in the first place from the metallurgical, chemical and machine manufacturing industries as is unnecessary for the German peace economy and should be removed from the Western Zones of Germany, in exchange for an equivalent value of food, coal, potash, zinc, timber, clay products, petroleum products, and such other commodities as may be agreed upon. ( b ) 10 per cent of such industrial capital equipment as is unnecessary for the German peace economy and should be removed from the Western Zones, to be transferred to the Soviet Government on reparations account without payment or exchange of any kind in return. Removals of equipment as provided in ( a ) and ( b ) above shall be made simultaneously. 5. The amount of equipment to be removed from the Western Zones on account of reparations must be determined within six months from now at the latest. 6. Removals of industrial capital equipment shall begin as soon as possible and shall be completed within two years from the determination specified in paragraph 5. The delivery of products covered by 4 ( a ) above shall begin as soon as possible and shall be made by the U. S. S. R. in agreed installments within five years of the date hereof. The determination of the amount and character of the industrial capital equipment unnecessary for the German peace economy and therefore available for reparation shall be made by the Control Council under policies fixed by the Allied Commission on Reparations, with the participation of France, subject to the final approval of the Zone Commander in the Zone from which the equipment is to be removed. 7. Prior to the fixing of the total amount of equipment subject to removal, advance deliveries shall be made in respect to such equipment as will be determined to be eligible for delivery in accordance with the procedure set forth in the last sentence of paragraph 6. 8. The Soviet Government renounces all claims to shares of German enterprises which are located in the Western Zones of Germany as well as to German foreign assets in all countries except those specified in paragraph 9 below. 9. The Governments of the U. K. and U. S. A. renounce their claims to shares of German enterprises which are located in the Eastern Zone of occupation in Germany, as well as to German foreign assets in Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Rumania and Eastern Austria. 10. The Soviet Government makes no claims to gold captured by the Allied troops in Germany.
disposition of the german navy and merchant ships
The Conference agreed in principle upon arrangements for the use and disposal of the surrendered German Fleet and merchant ships. It was decided that the Three Governments would appoint experts to work out together detailed plans to give effect to the agreed principles. A further joint statement will be published simultaneously by the Three Governments in due course.
city of koenigsberg and the adjacent area
The Conference examined a proposal by the Soviet Government that pending the final determination of territorial questions at the peace settlement, the section of the western frontier of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which is adjacent to the Baltic sea should pass from a point on the eastern shore of the Bay of Danzig to the [Page 1455] east, north of Braunsberg–Goldep [ sic ], to the meeting point of the frontiers of Lithuania, the Polish Republic and East Prussia.
The Conference has agreed in principle to the proposal of the Soviet Government concerning the ultimate transfer to the Soviet Union of the City of Koenigsberg and the area adjacent to it as described above subject to expert examination of the actual frontier.
The President of the United States and the British Prime Minister have declared that they will support the proposal of the Conference at the forthcoming peace settlement.
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 those 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 those major criminals should begin at the earliest possible date. The first list of defendants will be published before September 1.
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. 13
The Conference considered questions relating to the Polish Provisional Government and the western boundary of Poland.
The following statement on the Polish Provisional Government 14 was approved: 15
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 recognized 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 United States Governments have taken measures to protect the interest of the Polish Provisional Government as the recognized government of the Polish State in the property belonging to the Polish State located in their territory 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 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 the Merchant Marine. They expect that those Poles who return home shall be accorded personal and property rights on the same basis as all Polish citizens.
The three Powers note that the Polish Provisional Government in accordance with 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.
The following agreement was reached on the western boundary 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 [Page 1457] 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 16 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.
conclusion of peace treaties and admission to the united nations .
In view of the victorious end of the war in Europe and the necessity of establishing as soon as possible the conditions of lasting peace, the Conference agreed upon the following statement of common policy:
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 Foriegn [ sic ] 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 [Page 1458] with Finland, Rumania, 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 Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland.
The Three Governments, so far as they are concerned, will support applications for membership from these [ sic ] 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.
The Conference examined a proposal by the Soviet Government concerning trusteeship territories as defined in the decision of the Crimea Conference and in the Charter of the United Nations Organization.
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.
revised allied control commission procedure in Rumania, Bulgaria, and hungary
The Three Governments have taken note that the Soviet Representatives on the Allied Control Commissions in Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary, have communicated to their United Kingdom and [Page 1459] United States colleagues proposals for improving the work of the Control Commission, 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. 17
( orderly ) transfers of german populations
The Conference reached the following agreement on the removal of Germans from Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary:
The Three Governments, having considered the question in all its aspects, recognize that the transfer 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 the examination by the Governments concerned of the report from their representatives on the Control Council.
bilateral commissions to investigate the removal of oil equipment from Rumania 18
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 [Page 1460] 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.
The Conference has decided 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.
the international zone of tangier 19
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 Kingdom, and France.
During the Conference there were meetings between the chiefs of Staff of the three Governments on military matters of common interest (affecting Europe). 21
list of delegations 22
For the United States
“About 6:00 p.m. recess [of the Twelfth Plenary Meeting] was taken. I was asked if we were ready to report on communiqué. Had new draft. When Big Three went back in session, Molotov said they had not had time to study and it was decided to pass over communiqué until 9:00 p.m. session. Other matters were discussed and adjournment was taken until 9:00 p.m. Delayed for one hour and by 9:45 Foote and I were ready with new draft including all sections. “When President and JFB [ Byrnes ] arrived [at Cecilienhof], I had for them memos showing differences. Explained same to them. Protocol group did likewise.”