Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant ) to the President 1
Personal and Secret for the President from Winant. Number 2047.
I have been informed by the State Department that the agreement on control machinery2 recommended by the European Advisory Commission, and the protocol on zones of occupation in Germany and area of Berlin,3 likewise recommended by the European Advisory Commission, will shortly be before you for final approval by the U. S. Government.
The control machinery agreement has been approved by the State Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and I understand similar approval will be given to the German occupation protocol when the Combined Chiefs of Staff have come to an agreement on the U. S. control of Bremen and Bremerhaven, which includes rail, highway and canal facilities for the supply of our troops in the American zone. Both these papers have had governmental approval by the U. K. Government. Gousev tells me the Russians are favorably considering them, and I believe they are waiting action by us.
It has been my hope that these together with the surrender instrument,4 might be agreed upon by the three Governments prior to January 14th, which marks the completion of one year of work of the European Advisory Commission. These are the three basic agreements which are necessary to Allied control of Germany. Their acceptance will release many other papers of secondary importance that have been considered during the past year. I also believe it would be very useful to have these agreements an accomplished fact before your meeting with Churchill and Stalin.
The only basic policy directive that we have received from the heads of the three governments was agreement on unconditional surrender. The surrender terms were based on that directive and are in conformity with it. They provide for the three Allies taking complete military and civil power over Germany.
The agreement on control establishes the necessary machinery to implement the surrender terms but in no way prejudges the policy which may be applied toward Germany. It simply establishes the [Page 129] mechanics essential to any program that may be determined by those responsible for policy.
The German occupation protocol is an agreement on the delineation of zones of occupation in Germany and the division of areas for joint occupation of Berlin. It also defines the agreed area of Berlin. Again this paper in no way prejudges policy with respect to the treatment of Germany.
The unconditional surrender instrument is drawn so that surrender can be signed by both civil and military German authorities, or can be signed by either the civil or the military. If the defeat of Germany, on the other hand, can only be accomplished by the surrender of local commanders, the instrument can, with few verbal changes, be issued as a surrender proclamation.
All these three documents were recommended by the European Advisory Commission prior to the admission of a French representative. Whatever changes may be asked for by the French, and agreed to by the three Governments, can be accomplished by later amendment. The important thing in my judgment is to get agreement by the three major powers.
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Sent by the United States Military Attaché, London, via Army channels.
A copy of this message was sent from the White House to the Department of State with a memorandum of January 10 “for preparation of a draft reply”. A notation by Bohlen on the memorandum reads: “Admiral Leahy informed that we having [have] been awaiting Pres’ O. K. on control machinery for Germany & therefore could not answer Winants cable until Pres had made his decision.” (740.00119 EAC/1–1045.)
↩ - Supra.↩
- Ante, pp. 118–123.↩
- Ante, pp. 113–118.↩