Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

740.00119 Control (Germany)/5–2445

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Aide-Mémoire

1. The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Soviet Russia and France have now approved the text of the draft Declaration regarding the defeat of Germany and their assumption of supreme authority with respect to Germany in the terms recommended by the European Advisory Commission on the 12th May.

2. It seems desirable to His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom that the early issue of this Declaration should be arranged.

3. His Majesty’s Government therefore propose that the four Allied Commanders-in-Chief should assemble not later than June 1st in Berlin to sign and issue the Declaration and that publicity arrangements should be co-ordinated between the four governments as soon as the date of issue is fixed.

4. His Majesty’s Government consider that the Allied representatives who sign the Declaration will in effect become the Control Council and should thereafter meet as such to deal with questions as they arise. They would join together in setting up the Four Power Control Machinery along the lines agreed between the four governments at the European Advisory Commission.

5. The Declaration would be signed on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery⁸³ who will be the British Commander in Chief in Germany and the British representative on the Control Council.

6. It will be observed that the proposals in paragraphs two to four above do not mention the question of zones of occupation in Germany. His Majesty’s Government feel strongly that no withdrawal of British and American troops from the present tactical boundary line to the agreed zones of occupation should take place until outstanding questions have been cleared up with the Soviet Government. They do not consider that the issue of the Declaration, which seems very desirable on other grounds, wall weaken the position vis-à-vis the Soviet Government as regards this question of withdrawal. If the Soviet Government press for immediate withdrawal to the occupation zones it is suggested that the reply should be that this and other outstanding matters should be discussed between the four Commanders-in-Chief in their capacity as members of the Control Council.

7. Among the other outstanding matters which might be discussed in this way would be (1) the treatment of Germany as an economic unit for purposes of food supplies etc., and (2) whether, in view of the devastation, Berlin is still suitable as the seat of the Control Commission and, if not, what other seat should be chosen.

8. His Majesty’s Government also consider it most important that satisfactory agreement should have been reached regarding the occupation and control of Austria before agreement is given to withdrawal from the present tactical line in Germany.

9. His Majesty’s Government would be glad to know whether the foregoing accords with the views of the United States Government, and in particular, whether the United States Government agree that the British and American armies should continue to stand firm on the present tactical boundary line after the issue of the Declaration. If so and if the United States Government agree with the proposals set out in paragraphs three and four above, His Majesty’s Government would propose to put these proposals forward immediately to the Soviet and French Governments for their concurrence and for suggestions as to the date for the issue of the Declaration.

10. The issue of the Declaration and the establishment of the Four Power Control Machinery composed of the four Commanders-in-Chief, each being responsible in respect of control matters to his own government, need not and should not, in the view of His Majesty’s Government, involve the immediate relinquishment by General Eisenhower of his combined operational command of the British, American and French forces in Germany. It seems to His Majesty’s Government that it would be necessary to maintain this operational command at least until the disposition of the forces in the four zones has taken place.

11. His Majesty’s Government suggest that the Combined Chiefs of Staff should in due course issue instructions to the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force formally defining what his position would be after the issue of the Declaration.

Washington , May 24, 1945.

83. Commander in Chief, Twenty-First Army Group, Allied Expeditionary Force, Northwest Europe.