Council of Foreign Ministers Files: Lot M–88:
CFM London Documents
Memorandum by the Soviet
Delegation to the Council of Foreign
Ministers
C.F.M.(45) 10
London, 13 September,
1945.
Acceleration of the Repatriation of Soviet
Nationals
The Soviet Government deem it necessary to point out that the Repatriation
Agreements concluded between the Government of the Soviet Union and the
Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the
Provisional Government of the French Republic have played a positive role in
the matter of repatriation.84
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The Soviet Government feel bound
also to mention the great help and assistance received from the Allied
Military Authorities in repatriating to the Soviet Union a large number of
former Soviet prisoners of war and persons forcibly deported by the Germans
from the Soviet Union. At the same time the Soviet Government cannot but
point out that, according to reports from the Soviet repatriation
authorities, cases are occurring of breaches of these Agreements which are
giving rise to numerous complaints from Soviet nationals due for
repatriation (see Annex). The Soviet Government consider they should once
more draw the attention of the Governments of the United Kingdom and United
States of America and also of the Provisional Government of France to this
situation and to the need for urgent action to accelerate the repatriation
of Soviet nationals.
Furthermore, the Soviet Government consider it necessary to draw attention to
the following. There are under the control of the British and American
authorities a considerable number of Soviet nationals from the Latvian,
Lithuanian and Estonian Soviet Socialist Republics and also from the Western
provinces of the Ukraine and Byelorussia. The repatriation of these Soviet
nationals has been hampered by a number of difficulties, primarily by the
obstacles encountered by the Soviet repatriation delegates in visiting these
camps.
The Soviet Government would point out that the persons kept in these camps
are Soviet nationals to whom the Anglo-Soviet and American-Soviet
Repatriation Agreements of 11th February are fully applicable. Quite apart
from this, however, the Soviet Government insist on the right of Soviet
repatriation delegates to be given unhindered access to these camps in order
to clear up with the above-mentioned persons the various points connected
with their repatriation.
In order to put an end to the breaches which have occurred in the execution
of the Repatriation Agreements and to accelerate the repatriation of Soviet
nationals, the Soviet Government suggest the adoption of the following
resolution:—
“Having considered the question raised by the Soviet Government of
accelerating the repatriation of Soviet nationals, the Council of
Foreign Ministers agree that:—
- 1.
- Delay in supplying Soviet repatriation delegates with
information about camps in which Soviet nationals are held
should be avoided.
- 2.
- Soviet repatriation delegates should be afforded unimpeded
access to the above camps.
- 3.
- Soviet nationals should not be kept together with German
prisoners of war or under guard of German officers and
soldiers.
- 4.
- The anti-Soviet activities conducted in certain camps by
White emigres and other persons who have collaborated with
the Nazis during the war should be stopped. In particular no
toleration should be given to the activities in some camps
or groups of Fascists aimed at forcing Soviet nationals to
refuse to return home by intimidation and threats of the
punishments alleged to be awaiting them on their return to
the Soviet Union.”
[Annex]
Annex to the Memorandum on Acceleration of the
Repatriation of Soviet Nationals
Zones Controlled by the British Authorities
1. There are some 20,000 Soviet nationals in the territory situated in
the area of the British Eighth Corps in Germany in the western
restricted zone on the Eiderstadt Peninsula, and some 10,000 Soviet
nationals in the eastern restricted zone on the same peninsula north of
Neustadt. These Soviet nationals are regarded as prisoners of war and
guard duties in these camps are carried out by Germans. Soviet
repatriation delegates are not allowed into the camps where these people
are kept. Living conditions in the camps are very harsh. There have been
cases of armed attacks by Germans on Soviet nationals and anti-Soviet
propaganda is carried on.
In a Note of 22nd August, 1945, the People’s Commissariat for Foreign
Affairs of the U.S.S.R. made representations to the British Embassy on
this subject.
2. In Italy, in the territory under the control of the British Eighth
Army, anti-Soviet activities are also being carried on at points where
Soviet nationals are concentrated. Numerous examples of such activities
were given in the Notes of the Soviet Ambassador in London, dated 3rd
and 7th July and 31st August, 1945. Several illegalities committed
against nationals of the U.S.S.R. in the territory under the control of
the British Eighth Army were mentioned but so far the Soviet Government
have received no reply on the merits of the representations thus
made.
Zones Under the Control of the U.S.A. Authorities
- 1.
- For a long time the American authorities failed to inform the
Soviet repatriation delegates of the existence in Germany and
Austria, in the zones controlled by the American authorities (in
Landau, Munich, Nuremberg, Salzburg and other towns) of 36 camps
containing over 48,000 Soviet nationals—Lithuanians, Latvians,
Estonians,
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Ukrainians and
Byelorussians, who are being subjected to propaganda conducted by
various groups hostile to the Soviet Union and aimed at inducing
them to refuse to return home. Up to the middle of August, 1945,
Soviet representatives had no access to these camps.
- 2.
- For a long time the American authorities in the United States of
America failed to inform the Soviet repatriation delegates of the
existence of a camp for Soviet nationals at Fort Dix. Soviet
representatives only learned of the existence of this camp in
connection with an incident which occurred there, in the course of
which the camp guards used tear-gas and fire-arms against Soviet
nationals with the result that several of the latter were wounded.
Despite repeated approaches on this matter made by the U.S.S.R.
Embassy in Washington to the State Department, Soviet
representatives were not allowed to join in investigating the
circumstances of this incident.
- 3.
- It has recently been learnt that in Mond See near Salzburg, in the
American-occupied zone of Austria, there is a so-called “Committee
of Non-Return”, the purpose of which is to prevent Soviet nationals
from returning home. This “Committee” furnishes Soviet nationals
with “Stateless” documents issued in the office of the Burgomaster.
These documents are stamped by the American Commandant.
Zones Under the Control of the French Authorities
- 1.
- On 20th August, Major-General Vikhorev, Soviet repatriation
delegate, in conjunction with the Military Attaches in Switzerland
of the United Kingdom, the U.S.A. and France, discovered the
existence of a camp of Soviet nationals in the area of the First
French Army near Felke on the border of the Principality of
Liechtenstein. The French authorities had not informed the Soviet
repatriation delegates of the existence of this camp, and, further,
Lieut-Colonel Fichelier, the officer in charge of camps in this
zone, refused General Vikhorev’s request for admission to the
above-mentioned camp on the grounds that he had no instructions from
Paris.
- 2.
- In the First French Army area in Germany, individuals and groups
of White émigrés hostile to the Soviet Union are engaging in
activities designed to prevent the return home of Soviet nationals.
The local French authorities are doing nothing to stop these
activities.
- 3.
- In spite of repeated protests from the Soviet repatriation
delegates, the French military authorities continue to retain Soviet
nationals in the service of the French Legion. Thus, the Soviet
representatives removed 19 Soviet nationals from the 13th Brigade de
Legionnaires stationed at Meaux (44 kilometres east of Paris). Their
evidence shows that in this Brigade there are over one hundred
Soviet nationals registered as Poles, Czechs, Yugoslavs, etc. In
Bordeaux in another French Legion unit there are from 15 to 20
Soviet nationals. On 23rd May, 1945 a Soviet national, Ivan Snigir,
having
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no desire to serve
in the Legion unit which was quartered in Fort St. Nicholas,
Marseilles, attempted to escape but was caught and beaten up by a
Legion guard. When a Soviet officer, Major Shakhov arrived at the
Legion barracks to examine Ivan Snigir and draw up an affidavit, he
was refused these facilities by the officer commanding, Captain de
Lacourienne and the Legion medical officer.
