Office of the Historian

740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–1644

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Central European Affairs (Riddleberger)6

[Washington,] December 16, 1944.

On October 1, 1944 Secretary Hull gave the President a memorandum7 respecting American policy for the post-war treatment of Germany. This memorandum summarized the status of the negotiations in the European Advisory Commission and listed the important problems for which high policy decisions must be worked out by the three governments. These problems include: Demilitarization of Germany; dissolution of the Nazi Party in all its ramifications; controls over communications, press, propaganda and education; and, primary and continuing economic objectives which are to render Germany incapable of waging war and to eliminate permanently German economic domination of Europe. A recommendation was also included that no decision should be taken on the possible partition of Germany at this time.

The President replied to this memorandum under date of October 20, 19448 in which he agreed with many of the points mentioned and requested further discussion with the State Department on others. The State Department has consequently submitted several additional memoranda to the President,9 particularly with reference to our economic objectives. The President has subsequently informed the State Department10 that he is in favor of restitution of looted property of all kinds and that Germany should be allowed to “come back industrially to meet her own needs but not to do any exporting for some time until we know better how things are going to work out”. The President also expressed himself as being opposed to reparations.

In the meantime, the State, War and Navy Departments have prepared a revised edition of JCS 106711 for presentation to the [Page 424] European Advisory Commission. Ambassador Winant will be instructed to seek agreement on this directive as a general policy guide for the military government during the initial phase of occupation subsequent to German surrender or defeat. Mr. McCloy of the War Department intends to show this revised directive to the Secretary of the Treasury before it is transmitted to London. In the meantime, a number of directives on particular subjects, approved by the State, War and Navy Departments and by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been transmitted to London and submitted to the EAC for discussion there. A list of these approved directives is attached hereto.

In conclusion, it should be stated that the President recently informed the Secretary of State that he wished to work out these problems in connection with Germany with the State Department before taking them up with other agencies of this Government.

James W. Riddleberger
[Annex]

List of Approved Directives Transmitted to the American Representative on the European Advisory Commission12

1.
Control of merchant shipping subsequent to surrender.
2.
Securing and examining information in archives.
3.
Control and disposal of nationals, armed forces and property of enemy countries other than Germany.
4.
Administration of Justice.
5.
Religious affairs.
6.
Disposition and control of German police.
7.
Primary disarmament of German armed forces subsequent to surrender.
8.
Control of public information in Germany.
9.
Control of inland transport.
10.
Elimination and prohibition of military training in Germany.
11.
Control of post, telegraph and telephone service in Germany.
12.
Censorship of civilian communications in Germany.
13.
Disposition of German or German-controlled aircraft, aeronautical equipment and facilities.
14.
Disposition of German and German-controlled naval craft, equipment and facilities.
15.
Control of works of art and monuments in Germany.
16.
Disposal of German armed forces.
17.
U.S. directive of proclamations and general orders for Germany.
  1. Handwritten note at the top of the memorandum states: “Written for the Secretary to give to Mr. Morgenthau Dec. 18. J[ames] W. R[iddleberger]”↩
  2. Dated September 29, p. 344.↩
  3. Ante, p. 358.↩
  4. Ante, pp. 395, 398, 411, and 413.↩
  5. The reference is to the President’s memorandum of December 4 to the Secretary of State, p. 414.↩
  6. See memorandum dated December 14, p. 419.↩
  7. Of the following draft directives, only Nos. 15 and 17 are printed (vol. ii, p. 1060, and ante, p. 211, respectively). The remaining documents are in the European Advisory Commission files of the Department of State.↩