851.504/4–247: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State at Moscow
774. Moskco 38. For Secretary from Acheson. As possible factors in your decision on matter subject Kosmos 15 we submit following considerations:
French ability and willingness effect repatriation German POWs conditioned upon internal manpower situation which in turn endangers success of their recovery program under Monnet plan. Extent to which they can effect rapid repatriation in accordance with our wishes dependent in part upon acquisition replacement labor: foreign workers, including Germans; DPs; etc. Under conditions laid down Deptel 6411 number and type of German labor recruited by France will be small in comparison with number POWs repatriated and large net gain of workers to Germany will result. Our refusal to facilitate recruitment of Germans for work in France may delay agreement for recruitment [Page 634] DPs, will adversely affect French ability to repatriate POWs and this in turn will result in prolonging German manpower shortage. French have been advised of nature of our commitment to British under bi-zonal agreement to establish bi-zonal arrangement on self-sustaining basis as rapidly as possible. We realize and French should be told that any agreement reached with French must be in harmony bi-zonal agreement.
While we do not find from examination relevant ACA minutes that US is committed to seek quadripartite approval for recruitment voluntary labor at present in US zone, we recognize that in event agreement in Moscow on treatment Germany as economic unit, any recruitment program would have to be subject to appropriate revision.