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

Truman Papers

No. 745
Proposal by the United States Delegation¹

top secret

[Babelsberg, July 17, 1945.]

Implementation of the Yalta Declaration on Liberated Europe

In the Yalta Declaration on liberated Europe signed February 11, 1945,² the three governments assumed certain obligations in regard to the liberated peoples of Europe and the peoples of the former Axis satellite states. Since the Yalta Conference, the obligations assumed under this declaration have not been carried out. In the opinion of the United States Government the continued failure to implement these obligations would be regarded throughout the world as evidence of lack of unity between the three great powers, and would undermine confidence in the sincerity of their declared aims.³

The United States Government proposes, therefore, that the following steps to carry out the obligations of this Declaration be agreed upon at this meeting:

1. The three Allied Governments should agree on necessity of the immediate reorganization of the present governments in Rumania and Bulgaria, in conformity with Clause (c) of the third paragraph of the Yalta Declaration on liberated Europe.

2. That there be immediate consultation to work out any procedures which may be necessary for the reorganization of these governments to include representatives of all significant democratic elements. Diplomatic recognition shall be accorded and peace treaties concluded with those countries as soon as such reorganization has taken place.

3. That in conformity with the obligations contained in Clause (d) of the third paragraph of the Declaration on liberated Europe, the three governments consider how best to assist any interim governments in the holding of free and unfettered elections. Such assistance is immediately required in the case of Greece, and will in due course undoubtedly be required in Rumania and Bulgaria, and possibly other countries.⁴

1. Attachment 3 to the minutes of the First Plenary Meeting. See ante, p. 53.
2. For the text of the Yalta Declaration, see document No. 1417, section v.

3. There is in the Department of State files a different version of this proposal (file No. 740.00119 Potsdam/7–1845). It is in mimeographed form, undated, but it has not been definitely established that it was circulated internationally. In this version the following text has been substituted for the first paragraph:

   “With the adoption of the Declaration on liberated Europe signed at Yalta February 11, 1945 the three Governments published to the world an intention of unity in action in the fulfillment of obligations, under certain agreed principles, toward the liberated peoples of Europe and the peoples of the former axis satellite states. In order that there should be clear demonstration of the sincerity of the three Governments in carrying out the principles set forth in this Declaration, it is necessary, in the opinion of the United States Government to adopt effective methods for fulfilling these obligations. The cessation of hostilities in Europe and the resultant safety of communications and supply now enable the three Governments to review the means by which this may best be accomplished.”

4. In the version referred to in footnote 3, the following text has been substituted for the last three lines of subparagraph 3: “is immediately required [in the case] of Greece; plans for elections in Bulgaria likewise require the attention of the three governments; also in the case of Rumania and possibly other countries assistance will undoubtedly be required in due course.”