Pauley Files
No. 881
The Representative on the Allied
Commission on Reparations (Pauley) to the Secretary of
State1
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I am in receipt
of a copy of a letter sent by Sir
David Waley of the British Delegation to Mr.
Maisky. The letter to
him states that he accepts the American Plan2 with a slight amendment clarifying “as a
first charge” and adding “the needs of occupying forces”. These
amendments are satisfactory to our Delegation.
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
The Under-Secretary in the British
Treasury (Waley) to the Chairman of the Allied Commission
on Reparations (Maisky)
Dear Mr. Maisky: We have now had an
opportunity to examine the United States proposal on
Reparations and related matters which was handed to us the
other night. We are ready to agree in these proposals
subject to lines 5, 6 and 7 of paragraph b reading as follows:—
“Either to pay, as a first charge, for necessary
approved imports not otherwise paid for or, if such
payment for imports has been effected, for its own
reparation account or for the reparation account of
any other United Nation entitled to
reparation”[.]
The insertion of the words “as a first
charge” expresses without ambiguity the point to which we
have so often drawn attention. The insertion of the word
“reparation” is only a drafting amendment. In this
connection it seems desirable to define what we mean by “the
needs of the occupying forces” and I enclose a memorandum
giving our views on this matter.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Ambassador Pauley.
I am [etc.]
[Page 818]
[Subenclosure]
Memorandum by the U. K.
Delegation
The programme of minimum required imports for Germany as a
whole should include the supplies which the Armies of
Occupation import in the form of food, petrol, oil
lubricants and similar supplies and in the form of
non-warlike stores, e. g. medical stores, works stores,
furniture, etc. On the other hand, the cost of imported
warlike stores (including vehicles and signal equipment as
well as such obviously warlike items as guns and ammunition
and clothing and also pay and allowances drawn by the troops
outside Germany) would be at the cost of the Occupying
Forces and not included in the programme of imports which
have to be covered by German exports.
