Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The British Commonwealth, Western and Central Europe, Volume V

840.48 Refugees/12–446: Telegram

Mr. Donald Heath, Chargé in the Office of the United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy), to the Secretary of State

secret

Berlin, December 4, 1946—10 p.m.
[Received December 5—1:30 a.m.]

2799. 92nd meeting Coordinating Committee December 3 dissipated several hours in largely fruitless discussion of transfer of populations but achieved some distinction through presence of French substitute member who spoke as equal with forceful and constructive logic in attempting to hold Soviets to their obligations.

1. Project for return of Germans in Denmark met with Soviet insistence that priority be given to completion of transfers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria (my telegram 2740, November 27¹⁵). Telegram from LaGuardia¹⁶ was read alluding to unjustifiable burden on Denmark resulting from presence of refugee Germans and message was referred to PW–DP Directorate for reply. Soviet member defeated efforts of United States, British and French members that advanced or concurrent planning be undertaken for return of Germans from Denmark which they asserted merited equal priority with Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria. Coordinating Committee finally approved recommendations (1) and (2) of PW DP Directorate mentioned in reference telegram and decided recommendation (3) be referred to Legal Directorate for clarification of term “non-Germans”.¹⁷ United States member made statement for record that he regarded “German civilian internees” as including Germans formerly domiciled east of Oder-Western Neisse line. Coordinating Committee further instructed PW DP Directorate to take all necessary measures for speediest implementation of Control Council plan for transfer of German populations.

2. Coordinating Committee was called upon to draft reply to inquiry from ACC Austria pending since February regarding disposition of “Volksdeutsche” from Yugoslavia, Rumania and Bulgaria now in Austria. Soviet member attacked French for refusing to accept such Germans into their zone under quota of 150,000 expellees which they had agreed to receive from Austria. Substitute French delegate, General Bapst, declared obligation extended only to persons of German nationality and he inquired what international commitment obligated France to receive persons from Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Rumania who either possessed nationality of these countries or were stateless and although of German descent were not of German nationality. Coordinating Committee referred to Legal Directorate nationality question of Germans involved.

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

Heath

15. Not printed, but see footnote 17, below.
16. Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Director-General of UNRRA.

17. The three recommendations, as reported in telegram 2740, read as follows:

    “(1) that transfers of Germans from Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary and Poland will continue; (2) that all Germans formerly residing in one of four occupation zones who fled Germany as well as all released German prisoners-of-war, German civilian internees and obnoxious Germans will be accepted in Germany at rates and time decided by Commander of Zone to which such persons must return; (3) entry into Germany will be prohibited to all non-Germans, except Allied personnel, regularly accredited missions or other persons admitted with concurrence respective Zone Commander.” (840.48 Refugees/11–2746)