740.00119 Control (Germany)/1–3145
The Assistant Secretary of War (McCloy) to the Assistant Secretary of
State (Dunn)
Washington, 31 January
1945.
Dear Jim: I think it might be advisable to
send Winant a cablegram along the lines of the attached draft on the
present status of the protocol defining zones of occupation.
Sincerely,
[Enclosure]
Draft of Cable to Ambassador Winant
Protocol on zones of occupation is being urgently considered by the
British and American military authorities. The formula on the
control of the Bremen–Bremerhaven Area arrived at as a result of a
meeting with Lord Halifax has been agreed to by the British with
minor amendments.45 However, the American military authorities felt that the
command channels of the U.S. Bremen–Bremerhaven Area Commander
needed additional clarification. The British have queried London on
this matter and we are awaiting their reply.
It is the current position of the military that the U.S. Area
Commander should be under the command of the U.S. Zone Commander and
not under the British Commander of the Northwest Area. In line with
this, it is our present position that the British Commander of
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the Northwest Zone should
keep the U.S. Bremen–Bremerhaven Area Commander currently informed
of the general policies pursued in the administration of military
government in the British Northwestern Zone and that the U.S. Area
Commander will conform with these policies subject always to the
right of the American Commander to vary the administration of the
area in any particular that he may find necessary on military
grounds. Since the main reason for securing the Bremen–Bremerhaven
Area was to provide facilities for the use of the U.S. Zone
Commander, it appears perfectly logical that his command position
should be that of a subordinate to the U.S. Zone Commander.
This remains the only point of difference and I believe that it will
be resolved rapidly so that the protocol may be cleared for
signature.
