740.00119 Council/2–2646:
Telegram
The Secretary of
State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom
(Winant)
top secret
Washington, February 26, 1946—2
p.m.
1791. Reurtel 719 (Delsec 144) Jan
26. For Dunn, Reinstein and Radius. Dept submits as statement of
policy on Danube principles set forth below pursuant to Deptel 914 Jan 26:
- “1. US should support re-establishment of general
principle of freedom of commerce and navigation on
Danube River in satellite peace treaties.
- “2. US should use this policy as to Danube River, in
so far as possible, to promote principles of freedom of
commerce and navigation in East-Central Europe and to
support political independence of peoples of this
region.
- “3. For your own information it is not our intention
to seek permanent membership on a Danube Commission, but
we should state our position without prejudice to
Anglo-French position.
- “4. US should seek to implement this long-range policy
and to support commercial interests of states not
represented on the Commission through its position on
Economic and Social Council of UNO, which is to coordinate specialized
agencies of United Nations, and through UNO itself.
- “5. In addition to its long-term interest under
Paragraph 1 above, US should seek immediately, on ad hoc basis, freedom of
navigation on Danube River, either through temporary
commission, or through US membership on Allied Control
Council, or through direct government-to-government
negotiations, in view of its role as occupying power in
Austria and Germany.”
While instructions are for US delegation negotiating peace treaties,
they are repeated for information to Vienna, Berlin, Budapest and
Bucharest.
