740.00119 Control (Rumania)/1–1645: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
100. Department’s infotels of January 6, 11 p.m.; January 12, 8 p.m.; January 13, 7 p.m.18 Deportation from Rumania of persons of German origin was the subject of a letter presented to Vinogradov by General Schuyler on January 12. Schuyler’s letter, based on the Department’s 15 January 10 to Bucharest repeated to you as 59, [Page 1244] specifically stated the non-concurrence of the United States Government in the decision to deport Germans from Rumania and in the directive issued to the Rumanian Government in the name of the ACC. It also requested the cessation of the deportations until the matter could be fully discussed by the Soviet and United States Governments. Vinogradov replied that the contents of Schuyler’s letter would be forwarded to Moscow, but that under his present instructions he could not halt the deportations.
Deportations from Bucharest began on January 10 and now appear to be nearly completed. The Department has no first-hand information on deportations from other parts of Rumania but it is reported that the total number of Germans to be deported is about 80,000. According to Soviet plans, all are to leave before January 20. Vinogradov told Schuyler that the majority of them would work in coal mines in the USSR.
Similar deportations are reported to be in progress in Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. All persons of German origin or “race” within the specified age groups, regardless of citizenship, are included in the registration. In Bulgaria the registration orders were issued by Bulgarian officials apparently without a formal directive issued in the name of the ACC. The Department has no information on deportations from Hungary and Yugoslavia, except the report that in Hungary they are about two-thirds completed.
The Department’s position on the deportations from Rumania was set forth in its 59, January 10. Further consideration of the matter here has led to the following conclusions in amplification of that position:
- A.
- From information available to the Department it would appear that proposed draft of Germans is at least as much, if not more, a means of collecting reparation in form of labor services than a measure of security. Reasons are: 1, the intended use of deportees for Soviet reconstruction. 2, age limits of conscripts appear to have been chosen primarily with reference to ability to perform hard physical labor. Men and women over the ages of 40 and 30 respectively are fully as capable of sabotage and subversive political activity as younger persons.
- B.
- There is no provision whatever in the Rumanian Armistice for reparation in the form of labor services and consequently no legal justification for demanding such services.
- C.
- The Soviet argument that these people are Germans and must repair damage done by other Germans would make this question primarily a part of the reparation settlement with Germany, concerning [Page 1245] which there has yet been no detailed discussion or agreement. This Government will not necessarily oppose reparation by Germany in the form of labor services but it is firmly convinced that such questions should be decided only after full consultation and agreement among the Allied powers and not by unilateral action on the part of the Soviet Union as an incident to armistice terms made with satellite countries.
- D.
- In respect to the Soviet contention that the German minority is engaging in extensive espionage, this Government of course recognizes the right of the Soviet High Command to take all reasonable security measures. As indicated above, however, it doubts that a convincing case can be made on security grounds for a “labor draft” for use outside Rumania, for reasons mentioned in A above.
- E.
- The Department is considerably concerned over what may be American public reaction to the proposed step. In spite of assurances that all cases will be considered on their merits there is likely to be created a strong impression that the Soviets are engaging in an indiscriminate forced labor draft, taking innocent persons as well as those guilty of Nazi activities and breaking up families in the process. In this connection it is noted that no indication has yet been given of the basis on which conscripts are supposed to be screened.
The Department believes that this matter can hardly be pursued further in Bucharest without a direct approach to the Soviet Government in Moscow. You are accordingly instructed to notify the Soviet Government in writing that the United States Government reaffirm the position taken by General Schuyler in his letter to General Vinogradov, namely that it cannot associate itself with the proposed deportation nor with the directives issued in the name of the ACC on that subject, and that it may be necessary for reasons of public opinion to make this position public. You should use the points made in paragraphs B and C of this telegram as main justification of our position but in your discretion you may also use other arguments adduced herein. You should also emphasize that United States position on this question is without prejudice as to future attitude of this Government on question of German labor reparation, and that it implies no change in its attitude with regard to the treatment of war criminals. Sent to Moscow, repeated to Bucharest and Sofia.20