Office of the Historian

840.4016/10–3045: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

Berlin, October 30, 1945—10 p.m.
[Received October 31—3 p.m.]

889. Reference second paragraph Dept’s 744, October 26, 6 p.m., regarding precipitous and disorderly transfers of German populations out of Czechoslovakia and Polish controlled territory into Soviet Zone.

It is not believed refusal to proceed with equitable inter-zonal distribution of German populations expelled irregularly offers a solution [Page 1303] to problem. Such expulsions as have taken place have been across German external boundaries and thus involve more than interzonal agreements. Origin of these German populations is primarily Poland and Czechoslovakia and in so far as movements are involuntary control rests with Polish and Czechoslovakian Govts and not with Zone commanders or CC (Control Council) (Germany). Official Czech policy, as stated in Dept’s 477, September 14, 8 p.m., is non expulsion except in orderly and humane fashion. Only information available here relative to official Polish attitude is that latter are disposed to be helpful as outlined in Warsaw’s 53, September 15, 1 p.m., repeated to Dept as 257.

Expellees, whether by orderly or irregular transfers, are already in eastern Germany. As indicated in my 758, October 12, 8 p.m.,65 some of these persons will be resettled in initial inter-zone transfers (step one) and plans are already far under discussion relative to acceptance and resettlement of remainder. General Clay66 has strongly indicated to POW and DP (Displaced Persons) Division that he wishes US to accept as soon as possible all German population, refugee or minority, that appropriately belong or are allocated to US Zone.

Murphy
  1. Not printed; it reported on the plans and procedures for transfers and settlement of German populations actively being considered by the Prisoners of War and Displaced Persons Directorate of the Allied Control Authority (800.4016 D. P./10–1245).↩
  2. Lt. Gen. Lucius D. Clay, Deputy Military Governor, United States Zone in Germany.↩