740.00119 EAC/12–744: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—9:05 p.m.]
10856. Comea 134. By letter of December 4 (copy transmitted to the Department by air today)90 the British representative on the European Advisory Commission proposed the early establishment of a committee of experts to work on “the material before the Commission relating to the disarmament and demilitarization of Germany”. As stated in an aide-mémoire of October 25 from the Soviet Embassy to the Foreign Office and as mentioned in my telegram No. 9851 (November 11, 8 p.m., Comea 126), the Soviet Government also attaches a high priority to this subject. At tonight’s meeting of the EAC it was agreed to appoint this committee tomorrow to begin its work immediately.
Material before the Commission includes several British draft directives and the following US draft directives which were circulated to the Commission on November 23 and 25 (see my despatch No. 19592 of December 1):91
Disposition of naval craft (EAC/44/34);
Disposition of aircraft (EAC/44/37);
[Page 417]Disposal of nationals, armed forces and property of enemy countries other than Germany (EAC/44/39);
And, disposition of the German Police (EAC/44/38).
I have now circulated the US draft directive on elimination and prohibition of military training in Germany in accordance with Department’s instruction No. 4684 of October 28.92
The revised US draft directive on “disarmament of German armed forces and disposal of enemy equipment” which incorporates the comments of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Department’s instructions No. 4664 of October 24 and No. 4722 of November 4)93 was transmitted with my despatch No. 19300 of November 18.92 Early clearance in Washington of this draft directive is essential if the US views are to be adequately presented in the now imminent discussions on this question.
The US draft directive on “disposal of German armed forces subsequent to surrender” was transmitted with my despatch No. 16970 of July 20.92 Comment and clearance on this important directive are similarly awaited urgently as a basis for stating US views and interests in the Commission’s discussions.