Office of the Historian

740.00119 EW/7–1945: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, July 19, 1945—9 p.m.
[Received 9:30 p.m.]

2629. From Sproul.37

a
There has as yet been no inter-Allied discussion of the phrase “direct participation in the war against Germany” (ref our 2568, July 14, 7 p.m.38 reporting proposed procedure for settling the division of reparations, etc.). Our tentative thinking is that it would be well to exclude from the outset countries whose real participation in war, war burden attributable to Germany, and damage claims are either minor or completely lacking on any realistic basis.
b
We accordingly propose to take initially or support the position that in addition to the Four Powers on the ACC only the following be invited to submit reparations claims; 1 Australia, 2 Belgium, 3 Brazil, 4 Canada, 5 Czechoslovakia, 6 Greece, 7 Luxemburg, 8 Netherlands, 9 New Zealand, 10 Norway, 11 Poland, 12 Union of South Africa, and 13 Yugoslavia. In the case of other countries, particularly the other American Republics, such claims as might exist could be adjusted locally by use of German assets in their territories [Page 1239] without going through the procedure of submitting reparation claims in this manner.
c
It is possible that Mexico and Cuba should be included in the list depending upon the extent of their actual participation in either land or naval operations against Germany.
d
Sir David Waley39 has informally indicated opposition to inclusion of Denmark on the ground that it was never actually at war with Germany. We incline to the view, however, that Denmark should be included.
e
We would appreciate prompt receipt of your views.

To Department; repeated Frankfurt for Pauley as 24. [Sproul.]

Kennan
  1. Robert G. Sproul, Adviser on Human Relations, United States Delegation, Allied Commission on Reparations.↩
  2. Telegram 2568 not printed; its substance, however, is contained in the agreed procedure for settling the division of reparations between countries other than the United Kingdom, United States, and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, pp. 834–835.↩
  3. Under Secretary, British Treasury, detailed to the British Delegation, Allied Commission.↩