Potsdam
Conference
The Berlin
(Potsdam) Conference, July 17-August 2, 1945
(a) Protocol
of the Proceedings, August l, 1945
The Berlin
Conference of the Three Heads of Government of the U. S. S. R., U. S. A., and
U. K., which took place from July 17 to August 2, 1945, came to the following
conclusions:
I.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS.
A. The
Conference reached the following agreement for the establishment of a Council
of Foreign Ministers to do the necessary preparatory work for the peace
settlements:
" (1)
There shall be established a Council composed of the Foreign Ministers of the
United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, China, France, and the
United States.
"(2)
(i) The Council shall normally meet in London which shall be the permanent seat
of the joint Secretariat which the Council will form. Each of the Foreign
Ministers will be accompanied by a high-ranking Deputy, duly authorized to
carry on the work of the Council in the absence of his Foreign Ministers, and
by a small staff of technical advisers.
" (ii)
The first meeting of the Council shall be held in London not later than
September 1st 1945. Meetings may be held by common agreement in other capitals
as may be agreed from time to time.
" (3)
(i) As its immediate important task, the Council shall be authorized to draw
up, with a view to their submission to the United Nations, treaties of peace
with Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland, and to propose settlements
of territorial questions outstanding on the termination of the war in Europe.
The Council shall be utilized for the preparation of a peace settlement for
Germany to be accepted by the Government of Germany when a government adequate
for the purpose is established.
"(ii)
For the discharge of each of these tasks the Council will be composed of the
Members representing those States which were signatory to the terms of
surrender imposed upon the enemy State concerned. For the purposes of the peace
settlement for Italy, France shall be regarded as a signatory to the terms of
surrender for Italy. Other Members will be invited to participate when matters
directly concerning them are under discussion.
" (iii)
Other matters may from time to time be referred to the Council by agreement
between the Member Governments.
"(4)
(i) Whenever the Council is considering a question of direct interest to a
State not represented thereon, such State should be invited to send
representatives to participate in the discussion and study of that question.
"(ii)
The Council may adapt its procedure to the particular problems under
consideration. In some cases it may hold its own preliminary discussions prior
to the participation of other interested States. In other cases, the Council
may convoke a formal conference of the State chiefly interested in seeking a
solution of the particular problem."
B. 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. The text of the approved invitation was as follows:
Council of
Foreign Ministers Draft for identical invitation to be sent separately by each
of the Three Governments to the Governments of China and France.
"The
Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and the U. S. S. R.
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:
(Here insert
final agreed text of the Proposal)
"In
agreement with the Governments of the United States and U. S. S. R., His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and U. S. S. R., the United States
Government, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Government extend a cordial
invitation to the Government of China (France) to adopt the text quoted above
and to join in setting up the Council. His Majesty's Government, The United
States Government, The Soviet Government attach much importance to the
participation of the Chinese Government (French Government) in the proposed
arrangements and they hope to receive an early and favorable reply to this
invitation."
C. 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.
D. 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 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 Control Council at Berlin and the Allied Commission at Vienna.
Accordingly it was agreed to recommend that the European Advisory Commission be
dissolved.
II. THE
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 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 semi-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
discriminations 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 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 15. 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.
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 its 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, 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 the United Kingdom and the 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, et 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 break-down 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 agricultural output; and
(d) to erect
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.
III.
REPARATIONS FROM GERMANY.
1.
Reparation claims of the U. S. S. R. shall be met by removals from the zone of
Germany occupied by the U. S. S. R., and from appropriate German external
assets.
2. The U. S.
S. R. undertakes to settle the reparation claims of Poland from its own share
of reparations.
3. The
reparation 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
he eligible for delivery in accordance with the procedure set forth in the last
sentence of paragraph 6.
8. The
Soviet Government renounces all claims in respect of reparations 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 all claims in respect of
reparations 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.
IV. DISPOSAL
OF THE GERMAN NAVY AND MERCHANT MARINE
A. The
following principles for the distribution of the German Navy were agreed:
(1) The
total strength of the German surface navy, excluding ships sunk and those taken
over from Allied Nations, but including ships under construction or repair,
shall be divided equally among the U. S. S. R., U. K., and U. S. A.
(2) Ships
under construction or repair mean those ships whose construction or repair may
be completed within three to six months, according to the type of ship. Whether
such ships under construction or repair shall be completed or repaired shall be
determined by the technical commission appointed by the Three Powers and
referred to below, subject to the principle that their completion or repair
must be achieved within the time limits above provided, without any increase of
skilled employment in the German shipyards and without permitting the reopening
of any German ship building or connected industries. Completion date means the
date when a ship is able to go out on its first trip, or, under peacetime
standards, would refer to the customary date of delivery by shipyard to the
Government.
(3) The
larger part of the German submarine fleet shall be sunk. Not more than thirty submarines
shall be preserved and divided equally between the U. S. S. R., U. K., and U.
S. A. for experimental and technical purposes.
(4) All
stocks of armament, ammunition and supplies of the German Navy appertaining to
the vessels transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (3) hereof shall be
handed over to the respective powers receiving such ships.
(5) The
Three Governments agree to constitute a tripartite naval commission comprising
two representatives for each government, accompanied by the requisite staff, to
submit agreed recommendations to the Three Governments for the allocation of
specific German warships and to handle other detailed matters arising out of
the agreement between the Three Governments regarding the German fleet. The
Commission will hold its first meeting not later than 15th August, 1945, in
Berlin, which shall be its headquarters. Each Delegation on the Commission will
have the right on the basis of reciprocity to inspect German warships wherever
they may be located.
(6) The
Three Governments agreed that transfers, including those of ships under
construction and repair, shall be completed as soon as possible, but not later
than 15th February, 1946. The Commission will submit fortnightly reports,
including proposals for the progressive allocation of the vessels when agreed
by the Commission.
B. The
following principles for the distribution of the German Merchant Marine were
agreed:-
(1) The
German Merchant Marine, surrendered to the Three Powers and wherever located,
shall be divided equally among the U. S. S. R., the U. K., and the U. S. A. The
actual transfers of the ships to the respective countries shall take place as
soon as practicable after the end of the war against Japan. The United Kingdom
and the United States will provide out of their shares of the surrendered
German merchant ships appropriate amounts for other Allied States whose
merchant marines have suffered heavy losses in the common cause against
Germany, except that the Soviet Union shall provide out of its share for Poland.
(2) The
allocation, manning, and operation of these ships during the Japanese War
period shall fall under the cognizance and authority of the Combined Shipping
Adjustment Board and the United Maritime Authority.
(3) While
actual transfer of the ships shall be delayed until after the end of the war
with Japan, a Tripartite Shipping Commission shall inventory and value all
available ships and recommend a specific distribution in accordance with
paragraph (1).
(4) German inland
and coastal ships determined to be necessary to the maintenance of the basic
German peace economy by the Allied Control Council of Germany shall not be
included in the shipping pool thus divided among the Three Powers.
(5) The
Three Governments agree to constitute a tripartite merchant marine commission
comprising two representatives for each Government, accompanied by the
requisite staff, to submit agreed recommendations to the Three Governments for
the allocation of specific German merchant ships and to handle other detailed
matters arising out of the agreement between the Three Governments regarding
the German merchant ships. The Commission will hold its first meeting not later
than September 1st, 1945, in Berlin, which shall be its headquarters. Each
delegation on the Commission will have the right on the basis of reciprocity to
inspect the German merchant ships wherever they may be located.
V. CITY 0F
KOENIGSBERG AND THE ADJACENT AREA.
The
Conference examined a proposal by the Soviet Government to the effect 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 east, north of
Braunsberg-Goldap, 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.
VI. WAR
CRIMINALS.
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 localization. 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.
VII.
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.
VIII.
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 recognized by the Three Powers. The establishment
by the British and United States Governments of diplomatic relations with the
Polish Provisional Government of National Unity 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 of National Unity as the recognized
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 of National Unity 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 of National
Unity 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 of National Unity, 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 'end 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 cast of a line running from the
Baltic Sea immediately west of Swinamunde, 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.
IX.
CONCLUSION on PEACE TREATIES AND ADMISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION.
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. 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 for
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
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 fulfill 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 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.
As regards
the admission of other States into the United Nations Organization, Article 4
of the Charter of the United Nations declares 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 fulfill 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.
X.
TERRITORIAL TRUSTEESHIP.
The
Conference examined a proposal by the Soviet Government on the question of
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 colonial territories was one to be decided in connection with
the preparation of a peace treaty for Italy and that the question of Italian
colonial territory would be considered by the September Council of Ministers of
Foreign Affairs.
XI. REVISED
ALLIED CONTROL COMMISSION PROCEDURE IN RUMANIA, BULGARIA, AND HUNGARY.
The three
Governments took note that the Soviet Representatives on the Allied Control
Commissions in Rumania, 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 agreed that the revision of the procedures of the Allied Control
Commissions in these countries would 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 I)
XII. ORDERLY
TRANSFER OF GERMAN POPULATIONS.
The Three
Governments, having considered the question in all its aspects, recognize 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 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, 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.
XIII. 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 in Rumania. It was further agreed that these experts shall begin
their work within ten days, on the spot.
XIV. 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.
XV. THE
INTERNATIONAL 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 Kingdom and France.
XVI. THE
BLACK SEA STRAITS.
The Three
Governments recognized that the Convention concluded at Montreux should be
revised 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.
XVII.
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.
XVIII.
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.
XIX.
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.
XX. USE OF
ALLIED PROPERTY FOR SATELLITE REPARATIONS OR WAR TROPHIES .
The proposal
(Annex II) presented by the United States 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.
XXI. MILITARY
TALKS.
During the
Conference there were meetings between the Chiefs of Staff of the Three
Governments on military matters of common interest.
ANNEX I
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 m 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 or 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.
ANNEX II
USE OF
ALLIED PROPERTY FOR SATELITE REPARATIONS OR WAR TROPHIES
1. The
burden of reparation and "war trophies" should not fall on Allied
nationals.
2. Capital
Equipment-We object to the removal of such Allied property as reparations,
"war trophies", or under any other guise. Loss would accrue to Allied
nationals as a result of destruction of plants and the consequent loss of
markets and trading connections. Seizure of Allied property makes impossible
the fulfillment by the satellite of its obligation under the armistice to
restore intact the rights and interests of the Allied Nations and their
nationals.
The United
States looks to the other occupying powers for the return of any equipment
already removed and the cessation of removals. Where such equipment will not or
cannot be returned, the U. S. will demand of the satellite adequate, effective
and prompt compensation to American nationals, and that such compensation have
priority equal to that of the reparations payment.
These
principles apply to all property wholly or substantially owned by Allied
nationals. In the event of removals of property in which the American as well
as the entire Allied interest is less than substantial, the U. S. expects
adequate, effective, and prompt compensation.
3. Current
Production-While the U. S. does not oppose reparation out of current production
of Allied investments, the satellite must provide immediate and adequate
compensation to the Allied nationals including sufficient foreign exchange or
products so that they can recover reasonable foreign currency expenditures and
transfer a reasonable return on their investment. Such compensation must also
have equal priority with reparations.
We deem it
essential that the satellites not conclude treaties, agreements or arrangements
which deny to Allied nationals access, on equal terms, to their trade, raw
materials and industry; and appropriately- modify any existing arrangements
which may have that effect.
(b)
Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender, July 26, 1945
(1) We-The
President of the United States, the President of the National Government of the
Republic of China, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, representing the
hundreds of millions of our countrymen, have conferred and agree that Japan
shall be given an opportunity to end this war.
(2) The
prodigious land, sea and air forces of the United States, the British Empire
and of China, many times reinforced by their armies and air fleets from the
west, are poised to strike the final blows upon Japan. This military power is
sustained and inspired by the determination of all the Allied Nations to
prosecute the war against Japan until she ceases to resist.
(3) The
result of the futile and senseless German resistance to the might of the
aroused free peoples of the world stands forth in awful clarity as an example
to the people of Japan. The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably
greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid
waste to the lands, the industry and the method of life of the whole German
people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, All
mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and
just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland.
(4) The time
has come for Japan to decide whether she will continue to be controlled by
those self-willed militaristic advisers whose unintelligent calculations have
brought the Empire of Japan to the threshold of annihilation, or whether she will
follow the path of reason.
(5)
Following are our terms. We will not deviate from them. There are no
alternatives. We shall brook no delay.
(6) There
must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have
deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest, for
we insist that a new order of peace security and justice will be impossible
until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world.
(7) Until
such a new order is established and until there is convincing proof that
Japan's war-making power is destroyed, points in Japanese territory to be
designated by the Allies shall be occupied to secure the achievement of the
basic objectives we are here setting forth.
(8) The
terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty
shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such
minor islands as we determine.
(9) The
Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted
to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive
lives.
(10) We do
not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a
nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including
those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners. The Japanese Government
shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic
tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of
thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be
established.
(11) Japan
shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and
permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those [industries]
which would enable her to re-arm for war. To this end, access to, as
distinguished from control of, raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual
Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted.
(12) The
occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these
objectives have been accomplished and there has been established in accordance
with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people a peacefully inclined and
responsible government.
(13) We call
upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all
Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their
good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter
destruction.