740.00119 EW/12–2744: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
2908. Reurtels 5011 December 26, 10 p.m., and 5028 December 27, 5 p.m. The Department agrees that the position and functions which our representatives are to have on the Allied Control Commission should be clearly stipulated at the time of the signature of the armistice. We suggest that these matters be covered by a special protocol to the armistice agreement.
Such a protocol, signed by the representatives of the three Allied Governments, would serve as the fundamental statute of the ACC. Difficulties similar to those in Rumania, where the Soviet Government issued a set of statutes which were never formally agreed to by ourselves and the British, and in Bulgaria, where so far as the Department is aware the ACC operates under no statutes at all, might thus be avoided.
The protocol should set forth the organization of the ACC and should state clearly the powers which will be exercised by the representatives of the participant Allied Governments. You are already informed of the Department’s view that the organization and functions of the ACC should undergo a change after the termination of hostilities against Germany (reDeptels 2403 October 10,94 2437 October 14, 2498 October 21). The Department would of course desire to have such provision included either in the armistice agreement or a protocol.
The protocol should also state clearly the rights and prerogatives which the non-Soviet representatives on the ACC will have during the time that the ACC is operating under the general direction of the Allied (Soviet) High Command, which may, of course, cover the entire armistice period. The Department would like to see the following rights expressly stipulated:
- 1.
- Policy directives should not be issued in the name of the ACC to the Hungarian Government until after consultation with the American and British representatives. If one of the latter (or both) regards the directive as not consistent with the general policies of his Government, he may refer the matter to his Government requesting instructions.
- 2.
- The American and British representatives should have freedom of direct communication in code with their Governments.
- 3.
- These representatives should have freedom of movement throughout Hungary, but should give prior notification of extended travel to the Chairman of the ACC.
- 4.
- The chief of each delegation should be the judge of the proper size of his delegation.
- 5.
- The chief of each delegation should be the judge of the amounts of money which he requires from the Hungarian Government for the expenses of his staff.
- 6.
- American and British delegations should have the right to receive oral and written information from Soviet officers on the ACC and to put forward for the consideration of the ACC proposals of their Governments on matters connected with the fulfillment of the Armistice Agreement.
If your negotiations on the American proposal for the reparation article result in modification of the Soviet position, provision for the special reparation section of the ACC described in Department’s 2585 November 2, 5 p.m., might be made in the protocol on the organization of the ACC as well as in annex E to the armistice.
When the character and functions of the ACC for Hungary come up for discussion, you should propose that a protocol covering this subject be adopted. If the Soviet and British representatives agree, you should then endeavor to have included in the protocol the points mentioned above.
With respect to our political representation in Hungary, we think it important to have it clearly understood by the Soviet Government that we expect Schoenfeld to have direct contact with Hungarian authorities, direct code communications with Washington and with other American missions abroad and freedom of movement except in military zones. In informing the Soviet Government of his designation (reDeptel 2893, December 27, 8 p.m.) you should make this clear.
Your 5034 December 27, 9 p.m., has just been received, part of it garbled. The Department will reply as soon as the omissions can be serviced.
If you think it would be helpful, the Department sees no objection to your informing Balfour separately of the substance of our proposal regarding the ACC protocol.
Sent to Moscow. Repeated to London.95