Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

740.00119 (Potsdam)/7–1245

No. 214
United States Delegation Position Paper

July 12, 1945

[Editor’s Note.—The Log for July 13 (volume II, page 6) states that Truman, Byrnes, and Leahy spent a part of the day “shaping up the agenda for the tripartite conference and preparing a written brief on the problems that were expected to be brought up at the conference. “In a conversation with a Department of State historian on August 3, 1954, Byrnes identified the five-part document outlined below as the “brief” in question. It is dated July 12, 1945, at the end of part 5. Truman used this document as an action paper at the First Plenary Meeting of the Conference on July 17 and introduced the proposals contained therein at that meeting (see volume II, pages 52–54).

Byrnes and Dunn had copies of the “brief” before them at the First Meeting of the Foreign Ministers on July 18. For the manuscript notations which they made on it, see the footnotes to documents Nos. 711 and 852, printed in volume II.]

[Part 1]

Agenda as Telegraphed to the Soviet and British Governments by the Secretary’s Telegram of July 5

[Editor’s Note.—This paper is identical with the six numbered items and the final two paragraphs of document No. 189.]

[Part 2]

Memorandum

Subject: Draft Proposal for the Establishment of a Council of Foreign Ministers

[Editor’s Note.—This paper and its annex are identical with document No. 711, printed in volume II.]

[Part 3]

Memorandum

Subject: Policy with regard to Germany

1. I propose that the Control Council should commence to function immediately in accordance with the agreement which we have already entered into.¹

2. For this purpose I am submitting for your consideration a draft containing the principles which the United States Government believes should be followed.

[Editor’s Note.—Attached to this memorandum, as appendix A, is a paper entitled “Proposed Agreement on the Political and Economic Principles To Govern the Treatment of Germany in the Initial Control Period” which, except for minor editorial differences, is identical with document No. 852, printed in volume II.

Annexed to appendix A is a paper entitled “German Reparations”, with four attachments. This annex and its attachments are identical with document No. 894 and its attachments (printed in volume II). Although these papers appear as an integral part of the “brief” prepared on board the U. S. S. Augusta, they were actually inserted in the “brief” after Truman arrived at Babelsberg (see volume II, page 941). The Augusta draft of the annex (file No. 740.00119 (Potsdam)/7–1245), which had no attachments, consisted merely of the text of the eight principles quoted in document No. 367.]

[Part 4]

Implementation of the Yalta Declaration on Liberated Europe

[Editor’s Note.—This paper is identical with document No. 745, printed in volume II.]

[Part 5]

Policy Toward Italy

[Editor’s Note.—This paper is identical with document No. 1089, printed in volume II.]

1. In the Agreement on Control Machinery in Germany signed at London, November 14, 1944, as amended by a further agreement signed at London, May 1, 1945. For texts, see Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 3070; United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, vol. 5, pt. 2, p. 2062. Text of the agreement of November 14, 1944, also in Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, p. 124.