Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

Truman Papers

No. 269
Memorandum by the Joint Civil Affairs Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff¹

top secret

[Undated.]

Position of Indigenous National “Governments” in Germany and Austria

discussion

1. The support by the Soviets of the Renner “Government” in Austria and their previous experiments with the Committee of German Officers indicates the need for agreement on the role to be played by indigenous so-called national governments in the quadripartite military government control of Germany and Austria.

2. The United States, United Kingdom and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are in substantial agreement that central administrative agencies will be used for implementation of national policies in both Germany and Austria and that, one day, the Germans and Austrians may establish democratic governments. They have also agreed that matters affecting Germany and Austria as a whole will be dealt with by the Control Councils in the respective countries. There is, however, no explicit agreement that no one of the occupying powers will effect unilateral recognition of indigenous agencies claiming national civil authority. Such agreement should be sought as an aid to efficient operation of the quadripartite military government in these countries.

3. The United States should urge that the military government shall not recognize such interim organizations claiming national authority, either on the national or zonal level, until the four governments have agreed to do so and the Control Council has established the exact extent of the organizations’ functions and responsibilities. Such agreement shall be without prejudice to the right of any of the four powers to collaborate with any local interim organization through which it will implement policy in its zones in Germany or Austria.

recommendation

4. It is recommended that agreement be sought that neither the government of any one of the occupying powers nor the commander-in-chief of any one of such powers shall recognize the claim to national governmental authority of any indigenous group in Germany or Austria without the concurrence of the other occupying powers.

1. This memorandum was forwarded to Leahy by the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on June 26, together with other reports, under cover of a memorandum which stated explicitly: “These reports represent the views of the committees only and have not been approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” Leahy subsequently passed it to Truman.