855.24/2–2445: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Belgium ( Sawyer )15
159. Combined Chiefs have recently been advised by SHAEF that limited deliveries of German goods to national authorities in liberated areas against quantity receipts are being undertaken in the case of commodities essential to the basic economy of the liberated areas and whose movement is justified by their direct or indirect contribution to military operations (see SCAF16 195 of January 31). Approval of this policy has been obtained on the U.S. side in Washington and the matter will shortly be considered in CCAC.17 (Reurtel 213 February 24)
SHAEF has also expressed the belief that decisions regarding more extensive exports from Germany should not be a military responsibility but should be made by some official body established for the purpose. This view is accepted here. The Department believes that such exports should be undertaken only after consultation with the Russians and will urge early consideration of an interim program in the Reparation Commission at Moscow.18 For the implementation of such a program the Department would favor the creation of an ad hoc body representing all the European Allies in addition to the occupying powers in Germany. Meanwhile it is hoped that SHAEF’s present action, though necessarily limited by military considerations during the period of hostilities, will be of significant assistance to liberated areas. It is suggested that you consult with the SHAEF Mission in Brussels concerning the present status of their plans.
- Repeated to Moscow as 517 and to London as 1717 for Robert D. Murphy, United States Political Adviser for Germany, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force.↩
- Supreme Commander, Allied Forces.↩
- Combined Civil Affairs Committee.↩
- Concerning the establishment of this Commission, see Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, p. 971; for documentation on German reparations, see vol. iii, pp. 1169 ff.↩