Council of Foreign Ministers Files: Lot M–88: CFM London Documents
Memorandum by the United Kingdom Delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers
Repatriation of Soviet Nationals
The Soviet Delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers have circulated a Memorandum (C.F.M.(45) 10)73 on the acceleration of [Page 327] the repatriation of Soviet nationals. In an annex to the Memorandum they make two specific complaints about the treatment of Soviet nationals in the British zones in Germany and Italy.
His Majesty’s Government consider that the Council of Foreign Ministers is not a suitable form [forum?] in which to raise complaints and enquiries on points of detail. They consider that such complaints and enquiries should be dealt with if possible directly between the Soviet Repatriation Mission and the competent British authorities, or, if not disposed of in this way, through the diplomatic channel.
As regards the two specific complaints made in the Memorandum:—
- a)
- The first will shortly be the subject of a reply from the Foreign Office to the Soviet Embassy
- b)
- As to the second, the Soviet Embassy have been informed, in communications dated the 3rd August and the 13th September, that more detailed information is required from the Soviet authorities before it is possible to institute the necessary enquiries.
The Soviet Memorandum refers to the failure to repatriate persons from the Baltic States, Western Ukraine and Western Byelorussia “in accordance with the Yalta Agreement”. His Majesty’s Government do not recognise the Soviet Government’s claim that these persons are Soviet citizens, and therefore do not regard them as liable to compulsory repatriation under the Yalta Agreement.
His Majesty’s Government will return to their homes persons from these territories who express a wish to return; but persons who declare themselves unwilling to return will, as hitherto, be kept in camps to which the Soviet Repatriation Authorities will not be allowed access.
As regards points 1 and 2 of the resolution proposed in the Soviet Memorandum, the Soviet Repatriation Authorities will, of course, continue to have full information about, and unimpeded access to, camps and points of concentration of Soviet citizens (as recognised by His Majesty’s Government) in accordance with the terms of the Yalta Agreement. They will also be allowed to interview, outside the precincts of the camp, persons from other camps about whose citizenship there is, in the view of His Majesty’s Government, some doubt.
As regards point 3 of the resolution, liberated persons who have declared their Soviet nationality or who have expressed their willingness to return home via the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have not been kept together with, or under guard of, German troops except:—
- a)
- In the very early stages, so long as it was absolutely necessary for their own security and that of other Allied personnel; as for instance [Page 328] in Norway where, owing to the lack of allied troops in the country at the time of the German surrender, it was essential to retain for a few days the existing organisation of German camps in order to prevent the ex-prisoners of war therein from dispersing beyond the range of relief supplies and protection.
- b)
- Occasionally in hospitals, where in the first months after D. Day74 accommodation was limited, and British and other Allied sick and wounded had temporarily to share what accommodation there was with German sick and wounded.
As regards point 4 of the resolution, organised political activities directed against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or any other Allied nation are not permitted in the British zones. No organised anti-allied political bodies have been or will be tolerated.
In view of the foregoing, His Majesty’s Government do not consider that there is any ground for the adoption of the resolution contained in the Memorandum circulated by the Soviet Delegation.