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

740.00119 (Potsdam)/8–945

No. 1107
Memorandum by the Executive Secretary of the Central Secretariat (Yost)¹

[Extracts²]

top secret

[Washington,] August 9, 1945.

Berlin Conference

Italy

Soviet Policy

. . . . . . . .

On two occasions the Soviets presented proposals in regard to the imposition of reparations on Italy.³ The United States and Britain refused to agree except in the case of delivery of capital equipment from war industries having no peacetime utility. No decision was taken on this matter.

British Policy

… On reparations he⁴ said that the British did not wish them for themselves but were thinking of Greece.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

… They⁵ also strongly supported the United States position on Italian reparations.

1. Printed from the ribbon copy, which is unsigned. For the minutes of the discussions summarized in this memorandum, see ante, pp. 55, 174–175, 323, 464–465, 482, 484.
2. For the other sections of this memorandum, see documents Nos. 738 and 1093.
3. Documents Nos. 1099 and 1104.
4. i. e., Churchill.
5. i. e., Attlee and Bevin.