Office of the Historian

740.00119 EW/11–1445: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)

[Extract]
Washington, November 16, 1945—8 p.m.

5348. For Angell, Number 36.

. . . . . . .

3. Reurtel No. 50.27 Dept approves inclusion of Albania as reparation claimant from Germany on grounds damage suffered by it during occupation by German troops and fighting conducted by Albanians against Germany. Dept, however, is not willing to press Albanian case should strong resistance be encountered from Greece. You should approach Fr and Br reps to support Yugo position but be prepared to retreat. Since diplomatic channels not yet established between US or Fr and Albania, presumably Br channel could be used representing three sponsoring powers.

4. Approve referendum urtel 59,28 though Dept feels it might be more appropriate to state policy of no reparation from current output. If small hope of such reparation must be held out, period should be limited to five years from VE Day or conclusion of peace treaty, whichever is less. Prior charges over reparation from current production should include: 1) current imports into Germany; 2) cumulated import deficit; 3) externally incurred costs of occupation, in the stated order.29

Byrnes
  1. Reference is to telegram 6581, November 14, 9 a.m., from Paris, not printed, wherein Mr. Angell reported that the Yugoslav delegate had requested that the Albanian Government be invited to the Conference (740.00119 EW/11–1445). ↩
  2. See telegram 6598, November 14, midnight, from Paris, p. 1386.↩

  3. At a meeting of the United States, British, and French delegates on November 23, Mr. Angell presented a redraft of his memorandum. The portions altered are quoted here and correspond to paragraphs b and c in telegram 6598:

    “2. Any surplus of current production or stocks above minimum quantities required for the German domestic economy must be used first to meet the following prior charges in the order stated: (1) the cost of current imports into Germany, (2) any balance of unpaid import charges incurred during the period of occupation, (3) costs incurred outside Germany for the support of the armies of occupation.

    “3. A surplus of German production over and above the prior charges cited above should be available as reparation only during a period of five years from May 8, 1945.” (740.00119 EW/2–1846)

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