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

740.00119 Potsdam/7–2445

Rapporteur’s Report¹

Potsdam, July 24, 1945, 11:15 a.m.

Rapporteur’s Report of the Meeting of Foreign Ministers, July 24, 1945

1. german, austrian and italian reparations and german economic questions

The Chairman declared that the subcommittee dealing with the German economic questions and German reparations was not yet ready to present a further report on these matters. Mr. Molotov pointed out that these committees had also been assigned the question of Austrian and Italian reparations. He presented two brief papers in regard to reparations from these two latter countries.² It was agreed that these papers should be referred to the economic subcommittee for study. It was also agreed that discussion of German reparations and German economic questions should be postponed until tomorrow.

2. european oil supplies

The Chairman inquired whether a report was ready on the U. S. paper on this subject which had been presented on July 20. He was informed that this paper was still before the economic subcommittee and it was agreed that discussion on this subject should be postponed until that committee reports.

3. implementation of the yalta declaration on liberated europe and satellite states

The subcommittee dealing with this subject was also not yet ready to report and it was agreed to postpone discussion until that report is available.

4. admission to the united nations

The Chairman suggested that, since the subcommittee dealing with this matter had also not been able to come to any agreement, the question should be considered at this meeting by the Foreign Ministers on the basis of the document on which the subcommittee had been working. Mr. Molotov said that the Soviet Delegation would not be able to take part in the discussion of this document since it omitted reference to the admission to the United Nations of Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania and Finland.

Mr. Eden suggested that the last sentence of the first paragraph of the paper in question be dropped and Mr. Byrnes agreed. Mr. Eden proposed a redraft of paragraph two of the paper which would take into account the interest of other countries concerned with the peace treaty with Italy. This paragraph is embodied in the revised document “Admission to the United Nations” attached to this report.³

The Chairman proposed the following additional paragraph to be inserted in the document in order to meet the point which Mr. Molotov had raised:

“The three Governments also hope that the Council of Foreign Ministers may without undue delay prepare peace treaties for Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Finland. It is also their desire on the conclusion of the peace treaties with responsible democratic governments of these countries to support their application for membership in the United Nations Organization.”

Mr. Molotov urged that it be agreed in principle that Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland not be put in a worse position than Italy in connection with the matter under discussion. After some further discussion it was agreed that, since full agreement could not be reached, the problem should be referred to the Heads of Government and placed on the agenda for this afternoon.

5. rumanian oil equipment

The British Delegation circulated a new paper in regard to the disposition of British and U. S. oil equipment in Rumania. The Soviet Delegation asked for time to study this paper and discussion of this question was therefore adjourned.

6. agenda for meeting of heads of government

It was agreed that the following subjects should be recommended to the Heads of Government for their agenda this afternoon:

1. Admission to the United Nations. The paper presented to the Foreign Ministers this morning is available to the Heads of Government as a basis for discussion.

2. The Black Sea Straits and Free and Unrestricted Navigation of International Inland Waterways. Discussion of this question was adjourned from yesterday’s meeting in order to afford an opportunity for study of the paper on “Free and Unrestricted Navigation of International Inland Waterways” which the President circulated.

7. agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the heads of government

It was agreed that the following subjects should be recommended to the Heads of Government for the agenda of their meeting tomorrow morning:

1. Disposition of the German fleet and merchant marine.

2. German reparations.

8. the polish western frontier

A delegation representing the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity and headed by President Bierut, which appeared in response to the invitation sent on July 22 by President Truman in accordance with the decision of the three Heads of Government,⁴ stated its case in regard to the Polish Western Frontier. A summary of the principal points covered in their presentation is attached to this report.⁵

1. Byrnes acted as Rapporteur for this meeting and read his report at the afternoon meeting of Heads of Government (see post, p. 357).
2. For the documents referred to in this report, see the footnotes to the minutes, ante, pp. 322–332.
3. Not attached, but tentatively identified as document No. 1424, post.
4. See ante, p. 252, and document No. 1147, post.
5. Not attached. See ante, p. 335.