740.00119 E.A.C./10–2644
The British Embassy to the Department of State 64
Extract from telegram from Mr. Eden in Moscow dated October 18, 1944
I handed Molotov65 a separate note entitled “Participation of France and the Other Allied Governments in the Work of the European Advisory Commission”.
This note reviewed the history of French application of August 2266 to discuss German affairs with Commission and expressed the hope of His Majesty’s Government that Soviet Government would be willing to accept French proposal in view of importance of obtaining without delay authoritative French view on arrangements to be made in Germany. It was pointed out that this would not in any way prejudge attitude of the three Great Powers to any claims which the French might advance for a share in the occupation and control of Germany.
Advocated also giving the Commission discretion to invite other European Allied Governments who suffered from German aggression to send representatives to discuss questions connected with surrender of Germany in which these Governments had a direct interest.
Suggested the Commission should have discretion to inform other Allied Governments of substance of instrument of surrender and, where security permitted, to give them actual text in view of importance of these Governments being brought to agree to terms of surrender before they were presented to Germany.
In introducing my note I recalled that Marshal Stalin67 had said that we should need the little powers to help in policing Germany. I thought the time had come to bring into discussions at European Advisory Commission those who had suffered from German occupation. I attached much importance to small powers agreeing to instrument of surrender before it was handed to Germany.
M. Molotov said he thought discussion of several questions in the European Advisory Commission had not been finished, for example [Page 80] zones of occupation and control. On his opinion being asked M. Gousev said that there was still the question of control to be decided.
I pointed out that I was asking in my paper for the Commission to be authorised to meet the small allies and discuss with them. M. Molotov’s attitude towards the question of Allied Missions had not yet been decided; but he promised to examine my memorandum and to reply in due course.
As there was no time at our meeting I subsequently sent M. Molotov, under a letter asking for favourable consideration, a note entitled “Representation of Interests of the Other United Nations in Control of Germany”. It emphasised that, without prejudice to basic principle of Three Power responsibility and authority for control of Germany after her surrender, appropriate arrangements must be made for representation of interests in Germany of the other United Nations, particularly those who had suffered German aggression and removal of their citizens and property to Germany. It was a matter upon which the other European Allied Governments felt very strongly. The note recommended that in the interests of cordial relations between all United Nations the Soviet Government should instruct their representative at the European Advisory Commission to support our proposals.
- Transmitted to the Director of the Office of European Affairs, James C. Dunn, by the First Secretary of the British Embassy, Michael Wright, on October 26, 1944.↩
- Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩
- See letter of August 22, from the Chargé of the Delegation of the French Committee of National Liberation in London to the American Ambassador in the United Kingdom, p. 86.↩
- Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin, Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Union.↩