740.00119 Control (Germany)/3–2846: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 29—8:08 a.m.]
904. Under Article 2 of the Agreement on “Control Machinery of [in] Germany”52 each commander-in-chief in his zone of occupation will have attached to him military, naval, and air representatives of the other commanders-in-chief for liaison duties. On February 6 General Sokolovsky53 made reference to the foregoing and asked that a group of Soviet representatives be accepted at USFET, who would also include a political representative, and form a Soviet Military Mission for the purpose of liaison.
With my concurrence Clay advised Sokolovsky that General McNarney54 authorizes such a liaison group to be composed of air, naval and military representatives, to be limited not to exceed 10 persons of all ranks. It was also stated that since USFET is a military headquarters only, a political representative of the mission would be unnecessary. Sokolovsky was advised that political affairs of our forces in Germany are handled in Berlin where we now have close liaison and friendly working relations with Soviet political advisers.
It was also stated that it is assumed General Davidov and his assistants (there are now 28 Russian Army officers, 1 enlisted man, and 5 local Soviet civilian drivers accredited to USFET under Davidov as a liaison group occupied with the repatriation of Soviet citizens) would be absorbed in the new liaison group by July 1 when it is hoped to complete repatriation of displaced person[s].
Clay’s reply also assumed that Sokolovsky’s military headquarters at Potsdam would receive a similar group of American representatives [Page 672] and that mutually agreeable privileges and procedures would be established for the operation of these liaison groups.
- For text of the Agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union on Control Machinery in Germany, signed at London, November 14, 1944, and text of the amending agreement between the three signatory powers and the Provisional Government of the French Republic, signed at London, May 1, 1945, see Department of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 3070, or United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, vol. v, (pt. 2), p. 2062. For pertinent documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. i, pp. 100 ff., and ibid., 1945, vol. iii, pp. 160 ff.↩
- Army Gen. Vassily Danilovich Sokolovsky, Chief of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany; Soviet member, Allied Control Council for Germany.↩
- Gen. Joseph T. McNarney, Military Governor, U.S. Zone of Occupation in Germany; U.S. member, Allied Control Council for Germany.↩