711.62114/9–2344
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of
State
[Washington,] September 24, 1944.
The Soviet Ambassador called at his request and handed me a document in
Russian, a translation of which is attached which lie said related to
the delivery to Soviet Russia of certain Russian prisoners captured in
Europe by the Allied forces from Germany. He said they were being
mistreated by the Allies in different ways and that some were being
reenlisted in the Allied forces. I said to him that my country had
twelve million men of its own enlisted and had no earthly use for any
additional soldiers and that in any event there could be no motive on
the part of the Allies either to acquire these Russian prisoners first
taken by Germany to do forced labor or military service and that I
cannot understand the reports which his government has received. I said
there is difficulty in identifying persons of different nationalities
and also in determining what an individual in many cases may have been
doing, whether he has in fact played with the Germans either under
compulsion or otherwise, et cetera. I said that in any event I would
pass this on to the proper military officials and urge early and
favorable action. I earnestly requested his Government to supply any
possible information.
[Page 1252]
[Annex—Translation]
The Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Gromyko) to the Secretary of State
[Washington,] September 23,
1944.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to bring
the following to your attention.
As the Allied armies progress on the European continent, the number
of Soviet citizens freed from the yoke of Hitler Germany continues
to increase. With reference thereto there arises the problem of the
speedy regulation of questions connected with the presence of the
above-mentioned Soviet citizens on territories which are under the
control of the Allies and also the problem of the organization of
their speedy return to their country.
Practice has shown that the attitude of certain Allied authorities to
freed Soviet citizens is characterized by a whole series of
irregularities. Thus at times freed Soviet citizens are considered
as prisoners of war and there is established for them a regime at
times even more severe than for German prisoners of war. The legal
and material conditions in which freed Soviet citizens find
themselves are in a number of cases unsatisfactory. There are cases
of propaganda hostile to the Soviet Union in the camps in which
freed Soviet citizens are placed. Attempts are made to recruit freed
Soviet citizens for foreign military units, A certain number of
freed Soviet citizens by the unilateral decision of the Allied
authorities were sent from Europe to Canada and Africa. Certain
other irregularities have also occurred.
The Soviet Union considers it necessary to draw the attention of the
Government of the United States of America to all the above-stated
facts which correspond neither to the tenets of international law
nor even less to the spirit of Allied sentiments. In this
connection, [the Soviet Government]65 expresses the
firm conviction that the Government of the United States of America
will take immediate and effective measures to prevent similar facts
in the future. The Soviet Government expects that the authorities of
the United States will immediately issue the following instructions:
- 1.
- That freed Soviet citizens will be regarded by all
authorities not as prisoners of war but as free citizens of
an Allied power.
- 2.
- That all authorities without delay will inform the
appropriate Soviet diplomatic representatives or those
designated by them concerning all Soviet citizens on
liberated territory and will assure the Soviet diplomatic
representatives or those designated by them free access to
these citizens.
- 3.
- That freed Soviet citizens will be assured normal
conditions of existence (living quarters, food, medical
assistance, et cetera).
- 4.
- That the assignment of freed Soviet citizens for work will
be made with the knowledge and consent of the Soviet
diplomatic representatives or of those designated by them
with the guarantee of normal conditions of existence and
work.
- 5.
- That the transfer of freed Soviet citizens from Europe to
other parts of the world will not be permitted without the
knowledge and consent of Soviet diplomatic
representatives.
- 6.
- That propaganda hostile to the Soviet Union among freed
Soviet citizens will be categorically forbidden.
- 7.
- That the recruitment of freed Soviet citizens for foreign
armed forces will not take place.
- 8.
- That all necessary measures will be taken for the
facilitation of the most speedy return of freed Soviet
citizens to their country.
The Soviet Government would appreciate it if the Government of the
United States of America will inform it of the measures undertaken
in regard to this question.
Accept [etc.]
