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

800.515/9–2045

The Acting Secretary of State to the Charge of the Soviet Union(Novikov)⁵⁶

The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and refers to the United Nations Declaration of January 5, 1943⁵⁷ regarding forced transfers of property in enemy-controlled territory and to the several communications⁵⁸ received from the Embassy on the subject of the restitution of Soviet property looted by Germany and now located in Germany or Austria.

Pending agreement on the scope of restitution among the occupying powers of Germany, the Government of the United States has instructed the Commanders-in-Chief of the United States zones of occupation in Germany and Austria to undertake an interim program of restitution to the governments of the United Nations from which the property was removed of identifiable looted property urgently required for relief and rehabilitation, other than gold, securities and currencies. In order to expedite the return of this property from the United States zone, and to alleviate the burden of administration falling upon the military authorities, it has been decided to proceed by asking the governments of United Nations which have been occupied by Germany to submit lists of property looted by Germany and known or believed to be located in Germany or Austria. Following the receipt of these lists, which may be submitted seriatim and which may indicate priorities in the urgency of return, it is intended, where necessary, to invite the United Nations concerned to send small missions to the United States zones of occupation in Germany and Austria for the purpose of identifying such of the listed property as each of the occupying authorities may have been able to discover in his zone.

Accordingly, the Government of the United States invites the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to submit to this Government one or more lists of property believed to have been looted by Germany from the Soviet Union, or from United Nations nationals in the Soviet Union, which the Soviet Government has reason to believe may be located in the United States zones of occupation in Germany or Austria. These lists should, so far as possible, refer separately to property believed to be in Germany and in Austria. They should further contain as much description of the property as possible and as may be required to enable the occupying authorities to identify the property, and should include all available information as to the location of the property. Since the Soviet Government may desire to indicate an order of priority of return, it is suggested that the lists include property which has already been the subject of earlier communications to this Government. The lists may include looted gold, securities and currencies, although the restitution of these will have to await intergovernmental agreement.⁵⁹

Washington , September 20, 1945.

56. The same, mutatis mutandis, on the same date to the diplomatic representatives of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Yugoslavia.
57. Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. i, p. 443.
58. None printed.
59. In a circular telegram, October 18, 8 p.m., the Department informed its representatives in the interested countries that henceforth they should transmit lists submitted to them directly to Berlin and Vienna rather than send them through Washington (740.00119 EW/10–1845).