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

740.00119 Control (Hungary)/7–1345: Telegram

No. 798
The Acting Secretary of State to the Representative in Hungary ( Schoenfeld )

secret
us urgent

Washington , July 17, 1945—7 p.m.

197. Your 281¹ and 286² July 13 have been repeated to Potsdam together with Depts views to the effect that the Russian “order of procedure” appears to cover several of the points we had suggested, notably provision for tripartite agreement on policy directives, but that the language was not entirely satisfactory. While unilateral revision of statutes is of course not in conformity with our position as one of the parties to their original negotiation, we believe Soviet proposals form good basis for tripartite discussion and agreement on revised statutes for second period.

Any further clarification which Key may obtain should be telegraphed Potsdam through military as well as Dept. It is assumed that he will take no action implying acceptance of the Russian revision pending appropriate instructions. (Re your 291 July 16³). Meanwhile Dept hopes that political aspect can be worked out at Potsdam along lines of our and Genl Key’s proposals (Deptels 57 May 28⁴ and 124 June 23⁵) with details to be worked out later in Moscow or Budapest.

Grew
S[amuel] R[eber]

1. Document No. 311, printed in vol. i .
2. See document No. 794, footnote 6.
3. Document No. 795.
4. See vol. i, document No. 287, footnote 5.
5. See vol. i, document No. 294, footnote 3.