740.00119 EW/5–445: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—11:30 a.m.]
1458. ReDeptel 970, April 28, 7 p.m. Roberts received yesterday a letter dated May 2 from Vyshinski on the subject of reparations. This letter is in reply to one addressed to Vyshinski on April 14 by Clark Kerr, voicing objection to the inclusion on Reparations Commission of representatives of Poland [and] Yugoslavia in the Commission.
In his reply Vyshinski takes strong stand in favor of inclusion of these countries, stating that the Soviet Government deems that Polish and Yugoslav representatives “must take their places on the Commission from the very beginning of its work simultaneously with the representative of France.” He then points out that this question, especially in view of recent events, [is] assuming a particularly urgent and acute character. He finds it urgently necessary to work out a plan on the basis of the principles adopted at the Crimea “in order to avoid possible divergencies in action on this question …73 which [Page 1206] would render still more difficult the solution of the already sufficiently complicated economic questions of postwar Europe.” He ends by requesting the British Government to appoint its representative without delay and thus not to delay initiation of the work of the Commission.
I have not yet received a similar letter. My letter of April 3074 sent to Vyshinski in pursuance to Department’s telegram under reference probably reached him just about the time his letter to Roberts was being drafted. It may have caused him to delay final drafting of a similar reply to Ambassador Harriman’s letter of April 975 on this subject. In any case, I expect that I will receive shortly a letter similar to that addressed to Roberts.