740.00119 EW/1–245: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:55 p.m.]
14. ReEmbs 5074, December 30, 7 p.m. I met with Molotov and the British Chargé d’ Affaires1 again this afternoon to discuss the Hungarian armistice terms.
We ourselves have now reached agreement with the Russians on all points of the armistice except those on reparations and the statutes of the Control Commission for inclusion in a tripartite protocol. There are one or two minor points which are under discussion between the British and the Russians.
Molotov opposed the inclusion of the phrase “without prejudice to the ultimate settlement of disputed territorial claims” in article II as he was fearful this would cause concern on the part of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. He stated categorically that this clause related only [Page 954] to the withdrawal of troops and could not and would not be interpreted as relating to final boundary settlements at the peace conference. I stated that this was the interpretation which my Government placed on the clause and that I accepted his statement as assurance that his Government placed the same interpretation on it. Balfour for his part agreed for the British Government as they have raised the same question in connection with article XIX. I therefore agreed to the articles appearing in the armistice without this additional language. In article XIX Molotov similarly gave the same assurances as to interpretation.
In article XVII Molotov agreed to the inclusion of the words “or the Allied Control Commission” after the words “Allied (Soviet) High Command”.
I submitted a proposal for statutes for the Control Commission explaining our dissatisfaction with the present situation in Rumania and Bulgaria. Molotov agreed to examine it and comment.
I pressed for a tripartite protocol on making available to the British and ourselves military information obtained from the Hungarian Government.
Molotov argued that this was not suitable for a protocol and should be settled between the military authorities. I insisted that Molotov should commit the Soviet Government at least in the form of a letter to giving us this information as our experience indicated that we had not received this information in the case of Rumania and Bulgaria. He agreed to consult his military authorities and let me know.
I am cabling you tomorrow the full text of the articles of the armistice agreement as now agreed upon.
I have not discussed the Soviet Government’s aide-mémoire on the question of reparations pending a reply to my cable 5078 [5079], December 31, 10 p.m. This article is therefore left open for future discussion.
- John Balfour.↩